He steps into the role at MSU during a pivotal time in collegiate athletics, as the landscape shifts with increasing pressure around NIL, revenue sharing and structural reform.

"We’re going to be extremely successful and competitive in that case," Batt said. "We’re going to be intentional about providing all of our coaches the resources to be successful or championship level. We’ll have a great plan. We’ll be united in that plan. We’ll be aligned in that plan — from President Guskiewicz to our coaches — as we head into that area."

Batt added that while the landscape is rapidly evolving, alignment across the university will be critical to MSU’s ability to adapt and thrive.

"This era will continue to be dynamic, require additional resources and provide new challenges daily," Batt said. "The key to that success is alignment, and under President Guskiewicz’s leadership and support of the board and the entire Spartan family, we are well positioned not to survive that change, but to take advantage of it."

His appointment follows a month-long national search led by MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz, who said he wanted someone "respected at the highest level in the industry" and emphasized that MSU "deserves the best."

"J is a visionary leader with a strong record of success, a deep commitment to student-athlete development and a passion for building championship-caliber programs rooted in integrity and academic excellence," Guskiewicz said.

MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo praised Batt’s experience working alongside high-profile coaches like Nick Saban and Gary Williams, saying it was essential to bring in someone ready to meet the evolving demands of college athletics.

"If you can work for those two guys, you can work for anybody," Izzo said. "Both of them had great, great comments about him, and I think that is valuable to us."

Izzo also stressed that success in today’s college athletics environment requires urgency — and that MSU can’t afford to move slowly.

"I look at two things in life — you either going to fly like an airplane or you're going to take off like a rocket," Izzo said. "And right now, we have to take off like a rocket, because nobody waits for athletics. Nobody waits — they want instant success and instant credibility, and I think we've got a guy that can hit the ground running because of where he's been and what he's been through."

Batt, a former soccer player at the University of North Carolina, said his experience as a student-athlete shaped his approach to leadership in college athletics.

He also signaled an intent to support all sports while underscoring the central role of football in MSU’s future.

"It’s imperative we support all our sports," Batt said. "But do not be confused — every athletics department competing at the highest level must be successful in football."

Batt said he has already connected with head football coach Jonathan Smith and emphasized a commitment to providing "championship-level resources" to all programs.

His contract and appointment as director of intercollegiate athletics will go before the MSU Board of Trustees for approval at its June 13 meeting.

Looking ahead, Batt said his focus will be on understanding the university’s culture and history.

"I have much to learn about Michigan State and ask a lot of questions," Batt said. "But we’re going to dive into the traditions and the history that makes this place so special."

As Batt prepares to officially begin his tenure, the spotlight now turns to how his vision will take shape in East Lansing. With a focus on alignment, innovation and championship-level ambition, MSU enters a new chapter under a leader poised to navigate the evolving landscape of college athletics.