Over the weekend, Michigan State agreed to a six-year deal to make Jason “J” Batt their latest athletic director. Previously the AD at Georgia Tech since 2022, Batt has been pivotal in turning around Yellow Jacket athletics.
A former student-athlete at UNC, Batt has a strong rapport with President Kevin Guskiewicz, which helped seal the deal on the move following Alan Haller’s departure. Haller was let go a month ago and now Michigan State's athletic department brings in a mind more capable of handling the new era of college sports, but there are still some questions that remain unanswered.
For one, how does the hiring of Batt affect Jonathan Smith’s future in East Lansing?
Despite only being at the helm for one season, many among the Spartan faithful have grown frustrated with the lack of recruiting victories to kick off the Smith era.
Despite showing promise, MSU went 5-7 in Smith’s inaugural season, a result that disappointed fans who expected a quicker turnaround following the Mel Tucker debacle. Fans are still clamoring for “juice” within the program and given Smith was hired by Haller, it could mean that Batt wants to bring in a coach more in line with his own vision for the football program.
During his time with Georgia Tech, Batt fired Geoff Collins and promoted Brent Key to head football coach and hired Damon Stoudamire to helm the basketball program. Since Key’s promotion, the Yellow Jackets have reached back-to-back bowl games for the first time in nearly a decade — a clear sign Batt’s leadership can produce tangible, positive change.
The good news for Smith is that Haller struggled to generate funds for the football program, while Batt has a proven track record of boosting fundraising efforts. Before arriving at Georgia Tech, Batt was the Chief Revenue Officer for the University of Alabama’s Department of Athletics and played a pivotal role in Alabama’s hiring of Nate Oats.
The additional resources he brings could be a big help to Smith, as in the NIL era it is resources that are the backbone of forging a strong program. However, Batt still needs to invest time and trust in Smith, which is far from a given.
Resources are only a piece of the puzzle though, and both Smith and Aidan Chiles will need to see tangible progress going into year two for Batt to feel comfortable retaining the former Oregon State coach.
There are reasons for cautious optimism: The revamped receiver room looks promising alongside budding star Nick Marsh, and the pieces are in place for both the offensive line and Joe Rossi’s defense to take a step forward. Michigan State aims to return to the ground-and-pound system employed by Mark Dantonio, but perception is souring on Smith in real time.
Time is of the essence, and unlike his time in Corvallis, it doesn’t seem like Smith has much patience on his side. Batt’s history indicates he’s unafraid to make bold moves, and should things go awry this season, he very well could look to find a new captain for Michigan State football.