Former Georgia Tech athletic director J Batt hired by Kentucky

Batt was with the Yellow Jackets from 2022-25 before spending a year at Michigan State.

J Batt, who was Georgia Tech's athletic director from 2022-25, reacts during the jersey retirement for former Yellow Jackets player Dennis Scott at halftime of a game against Georgia at McCamish Pavilion on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

By Fisher Isbell

2 hours ago

Former Georgia Tech athletic director J Batt has found a new home.

The University of Kentucky announced Monday that it hired Batt as its next athletic director and as chief executive officer of Champions Blue LLC, the school’s for-profit name, image and likeness arm. Batt will leave his role as athletic director at Michigan State just one year after he left the Yellow Jackets for the Spartans.

Batt will step in at Kentucky for Mitch Barnhart, who is retiring at the end of June.

“Across 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,” University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said in a news release. “As important, he has remained focused on ensuring student-athletes compete at the highest levels while being prepared for lives of meaning and purpose.”

Before being hired by Tech in 2022, Batt spent five years at Alabama as deputy director of athletics, chief operating officer and chief revenue officer. Batt’s tenure at Tech was highlighted by the hiring of Jackets football coach Brent Key and several financial milestones.

In his first fiscal year at the helm, Tech athletics raised a record-breaking $78.2 million in contributions to the Alexander-Tharpe Fund, the school’s athletics fundraising arm. The school also launched the $500 million Full Steam Ahead initiative, which included a renovation of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Nearly $300 million of the intended $500 million goal was pledged during Batt’s tenure.