All articles tagged with #kentucky athletics
J Batt explains that his nickname 'J' started in third grade to avoid confusion with two other Jasons, a moniker he kept through college at UNC where he was a goalkeeper on the 2001 national championship team, and into his professional career. He’s set to begin his Kentucky athletics leadership role on July 1 and says he plans to be highly visible and engage with fans across the Big Blue Nation.
University of Kentucky named J Batt as its next athletics director and CEO of Champions Blue LLC, succeeding Mitch Barnhart who retires after 24 years. Batt arrives from Michigan State, where he helped secure more than $400 million in gifts—the largest in college athletics history—and launched Spartan Ventures, after previously leading Georgia Tech and Alabama athletic programs. UK President Eli Capilouto praised his fundraising prowess and strategic vision as the program navigates ongoing changes in college athletics, with Batt pledging to focus on championships, student‑athlete development, and life preparation as he begins this summer.
Kentucky hired J Batt as its athletic director and CEO of Champions Blue, moving from Michigan State after just over a year; MSU is searching for a new leader as President Kevin Guskiewicz heads to Clemson, and Batt's MSU contract included a buyout trigger tied to that departure. Separately, MSU announced a 10-year jersey-patch deal with MSUFCU to boost revenue and fund student-athlete programming.