Capilouto: J Batt still coming to Kentucky after Michigan State president stays
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Guskiewicz reversed plans to leave Michigan State for Clemson.
- J Batt remains committed to moving to Kentucky and finalizing his start date.
- UK now appears to be responsible for the full $5 million buyout.
When Kentucky announced the hire of J Batt to replace Mitch Barnhart as athletics director last month, the pending departure of Michigan State president Kevin Guskiewicz was viewed as a primary factor in Batt’s decision to leave his current job.
On Monday, Guskiewicz reversed course, announcing he would no longer leave Michigan State for Clemson, as he had previously announced he planned to do in May.
While Guskiewicz, who hired Batt as Michigan State’s athletics director last year, is now staying in East Lansing, Batt remains on track to move to Kentucky.
“J Batt and I spoke this afternoon, and he has reinforced his commitment to UK and his excitement about joining the Big Blue Nation as soon as possible,” UK president Eli Capilouto said in a statement provided to the Herald-Leader after Michigan State announced Guskiewicz was returning. “We are working quickly to finalize his start date, and his family is eager to join our community as well.
“We are excited about J and his family joining us soon. We look forward to J hitting the ground running as CEO of Champions Blue and athletics director at the University of Kentucky.”
Per the terms of Batt’s Michigan State contract, he would owe the school $5 million if he left for another job before July 1, 2027. That buyout would have been cut in half if Guskiewicz were no longer president when Batt left.
The term sheet Batt signed with UK, specifies UK will pay any buyout owed to Michigan State. It now appears UK is on the hook for the full $5 million.
Barnhart’s last day before retirement was June 30. UK has not named an interim athletics director. The president’s office retains oversight of the athletics department until Batt starts his new job.
