The has hired athletic director away from Michigan State, a little more than a year after he left Georgia Tech.
Kentucky announced the move on Monday, delivering another blow to Michigan State’s leadership.
鈥淭he championship standard has been established at Kentucky and we are committed to upholding that standard of excellence,鈥� Batt said.
Shortly thereafter, former Michigan State AD told The Associated Press he wants to lead the Spartans’ athletic department again.
鈥淚 would be interested in talking to Michigan State about it,鈥� Hollis said at Detroit Golf Club, where he was serving his role as tournament director of the . 鈥淚 care for the university and I want to help it in any way I can.”
Batt will succeed retiring Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart. Barnhart has had the job since 2002, making him the longest-serving AD in the Southeastern Conference. Barnhart won鈥檛 take on a at the school after questioned decision-making at the school.
A year ago, Michigan State hired Batt away from Georgia Tech, where he was its athletic director since the fall of 2022. Before leading Georgia Tech鈥檚 athletic department, he was executive deputy athletic director at Alabama and served as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer in the athletic department.
鈥淎cross these institutions, J has distinguished himself as a record-breaker in fundraising and as a leader who strategically invests in facilities to maximize resources and revenue,鈥� University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said.
Batt’s exit follows Michigan State President Kevin M. Guskiewicz choosing to leave for the same job at Clemson.
Hollis had a successful run for a decade as AD at Michigan State before announcing his retirement in 2018 amid the fallout from the sex abuse scandal involving , a former Michigan State sports doctor who also worked for USA Gymnastics.
He also was credited with innovative concepts such as putting a court in the middle of a football field as he did when Michigan State played Kentucky in 2003 at Detroit’s Ford Field in front of a then-world-record crowd of 78,129 at a basketball game.
Hollis, a Michigan State graduate and close friend of Spartans basketball coach Tom Izzo, hired Mark Dantonio and he became the school鈥檚 all-time winningest football coach.
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