Michigan State’s AD “limbo continues,” as J Batt “remains employed and working at the school” as he prepares to depart for Kentucky, according to Chris Solari of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. MSU VP & Chief Communications Officer Emily Gerkin Guerrant said that as of Tuesday, Batt “remains an employee and is reporting to work at the school.” She added that “no departure date has yet been determined,” but that “should be finalized soon.” Solari notes neither MSU, its Board of Trustees nor President Kevin Guskiewicz have announced an interim AD since Batt accepted the UK job on June 15. With Guskiewicz announcing Monday that he “plans to remain MSU’s president, eschewing the Clemson job he had accepted in late May,” it means Batt’s buyout for leaving MSU remains at $5M. A clause in his contract would have cut his buyout in half if Guskiewicz departed MSU. UK gave Batt a six-year contract that reportedly pays him nearly $3M annually, and he will serve both as AD and CEO of Champions Blue. UK President Eli Capilouto posted Monday night on X that he “expects Batt and his family to be ‘joining us soon’ in Lexington.” Capilouto wrote, “We are working quickly to finalize his start date” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/7).
Michigan State AD situation in ‘limbo’ will no departure date set for Batt
