J Batt named new Kentucky athletics director, replacing Mitch Barnhart
· Yahoo Sports
LEXINGTON — For the first time in almost 25 years, there's a new person in charge of Kentucky's athletics department.
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The university named J Batt its new athletics director, announcing the news Monday morning. Batt has been Michigan State's AD since June 2, 2025. He succeeds Mitch Barnhart, who had been at the controls of UK's athletics department since 2002. Barnhart announced earlier this year he would retire at the end of June. At the time of Barnhart's retirement, he was longest-serving active AD at any power-conference school.
But Batt has far more on their plate than Barnhart once did; in addition to duties as athletics director, Batt also will serve as chief executive officer of Champions Blue, LLC. Batt will report directly to university president Eli Capilouto. Additionally, Batt will be a non-voting member of the Champions Blue Board of Governors. An LLC, Champions Blue was created last year.
Prior to his one-year stint at Michigan State, Batt was Georgia Tech's AD from October 2022 through May 2025.
This story will be updated.
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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: J Batt named new Kentucky Wildcats AD, replacing Mitch Barnhart