Kentucky Names J Batt Athletics Director and Champions Blue CEO After Mitch Barnhart's March Exit
Updated
Updated · WKYT · Jun 15
Kentucky Names J Batt Athletics Director and Champions Blue CEO After Mitch Barnhart's March Exit
3 articles · Updated · WKYT · Jun 15
Summary
J Batt was appointed Monday as University of Kentucky athletics director and chief executive of Champions Blue LLC, filling the vacancy left when Mitch Barnhart announced his departure in March.
Michigan State's current vice president and athletics director arrives with prior leadership stops at Georgia Tech and Alabama, giving Kentucky a veteran administrator from major college programs.
UK President Eli Capilouto said Batt stood out for record fundraising and facility investment, signaling the university wants stronger revenue generation in college sports' shifting financial landscape.
Batt said Kentucky's "championship standard" is already set and framed his job around mobilizing Big Blue Nation resources to help teams compete, win titles and support student-athletes beyond sports.