J Batt is Michigan State University’s new vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. 

Batt’s contract and appointment as vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics will be voted on by the Board of Trustees at its June 13 meeting, he will start the week of June 16.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:29) - Give us a bit of your background. Your name is Jason, but you go by J? Is there a story there?

(0:52) - You first met President Kevin Guskiewicz when you were a student athlete at UNC (he played soccer there), and you had to work with him on concussion treatments.

(2:22) - What attracted you to the AD position at MSU?

(3:50) - What’s the state and future of college athletics? NIL, transfer portal, etc. What is coming July 1?

(5:07) - What do see as the challenges and opportunities ahead for Spartan Athletics and all of college athletics?

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(6:12) - What are some of your short-term goals as you get started at MSU?

(6:57) - If you have had time to think about it, what about some long-term goals?

(7:40) - How would you describe your management and leadership style?

(8:20) - What is your philosophy on fundraising. Why do you love it? “Relationships. People invest in people.”

(9:30) – How does your experience as student-athlete inform your leadership of a department?

(10:48) - Final thoughts for Spartan Nation as you take over leadership of Spartan Athletics.

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