Michigan State University’s Tim House, president of the Spartan Athletic Foundation, is finalizing a deal to become the athletic director of Old Dominion University, according to Pete Thamel.

MSU hired House in November 2025 for the role of deputy athletics director for development and strategic initiatives as well as president of the Spartan Athletic Foundation.

House is the third higher-up in Michigan State athletics to depart for a new school after former athletic director J Batt and former Spartan Ventures CEO Jon Palumbo both left for the University of Kentucky.

MSU was not immediately available for comment.

Prior to his time at Michigan State, House served as the deputy athletic director at Purdue University. There, House led the John Purdue Club to record-breaking numbers. He grew the club's annual fund from $6.75 million in 2018 to the record-setting $13.5 million by the time of his departure in 2025.

With the advancement of Purdue’s fundraising during his tenure, House was named the 2025 University Fundraiser of the Year by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors, one of the highest honors in collegiate athletic development.

Old Dominion is a much smaller school than Michigan State, with an enrollment of roughly 24,000 students compared to MSU’s 51,838 students. MSU is coming off a record-breaking fundraising year, hauling in a total of $736 million total for MSU athletics. Old Dominion raised over $17.5 million in 2025 for its athletics.

House will succeed former ODU athletic director Camden Wood Selig, who announced his retirement in December 2026 after 16 years with the school.