J Batt set to begin tenure at UK
LEXINGTON, Ky. – J Batt will begin his tenure as CEO of Champions Blue LLC and UK Athletics Director on July 28, University of Kentucky officials announced Thursday.
“From my first discussions with President (Eli) Capilouto and others at UK, I was certain that this is the absolute right opportunity for us,” Batt said. “Kentucky’s storied history, the opportunity to serve the best fans in the country, the University’s strong institutional alignment and innovative mindset, and the foundation of excellence established by Mitch Barnhart and the athletics department make UK an ideal destination.
The values and goals of UK Athletics align closely with my own, and this department is well positioned for continued success in the shifting college athletics landscape.”
Batt comes to UK from Michigan State University, where he served as vice president and director of athletics. He also has served as director of athletics and vice president at Georgia Tech. He served multiple roles at the University of Alabama for several years, including executive deputy director. Batt also has worked at a number of other university athletics departments.
At Michigan State, Batt was instrumental with coaches and administrators in securing a more than $400 million commitment — the largest single gift in college athletics — and established Spartan Ventures, a nonprofit similar in focus to our Champions Blue LLC, to create new revenue streams and partnerships.
He also has contributed significantly to the ongoing development of a commercial district around the university’s football stadium. During his tenure, Michigan State student-athletes achieved the highest department-wide GPA in school history, and eight teams earned NCAA tournament bids this past year.
UK will pay Michigan State $3.95 million between now and July 1, 2027 under the terms of Batt’s contract. The transition process will continue in the weeks ahead before Batt arrives in Lexington on July 28.
“As we prepare to begin another academic and athletic year in Lexington, we will work to continue to deliver results at the highest levels,” Batt said. “We will not shy away from lofty standards of excellence — not only in competition but in how we support our student-athlete experience, how we engage our fanbase and how we conduct our operations. I promise to give my all to our great staff, to the University, to the Big Blue Nation and most importantly, to our student-athletes each and every day.”
