Guskiewicz introduced Bartholomae at the conference as a "bold, energized and visionary leader" who can build trusting relationships with university partners, including the Board of Trustees.

Guskiewicz said that while there was an effort to complete the hiring process before football season begins on Sept. 4, he was also "deliberate" with the decision.

MSU needed an athletic director who "understands what it means to lead a big time college sports enterprise" and "has the business acumen" to lead Spartan Ventures and Spartan Stadium District "like a CEO," Guskiewicz said, but also, someone who could be personable with coaches and student athletes. 

That was Bartholomae.

Bartholomae hails from Western Michigan University, which he has led the university's athletics department since 2022. There, he oversaw historic growth by winning the 2025 MAC Championship and their hockey team’s first ever national championship in the same year.

Details of his MSU contract have yet to be disclosed, although various insider reports place his salary range between $1.3 million and $1.7 million. His contract at WMU, which was extended in August of 2025, had a $5.1 million buyout in year one. In year two, it would have dropped to $4.25 million, and then to $3.4 million the following year.

As athletic director, Bartholomae will now oversee Spartan Ventures, the fundraising entity spearheaded by Batt dedicated to modernizing MSU athletics, and the record-breaking $401 million donation from Greg and Dawn Williams. He will also supervise the Spartan Stadium District project, which aims to construct an entertainment district between MSU athletic buildings on Shaw Lane. Both Bartholomae and Guskiewicz said that they’re excited to move forward with both initiatives with a good head start.

Bartholomae’s tenure as MSU's vice president and athletic director will officially start on Aug. 31, although the Board of Trustees must still formally approve his contract at their upcoming Sept. 11 meeting.

Bartholomae said serving as MSU's athletic director is the "opportunity of a lifetime" and a "destination job."

He said that becoming a Division I athletic director was his dream job after starting in the industry as an administrative graduate assistant helping student-athletes find postgraduate jobs. Since, Bartholomae has served in various athletics leadership roles, including an executive deputy AD position at Oregon State University before WMU.

"But that mission, serving student athletes, building community through connection and enhancement, that has never left me," Bartholomae said. "So, folks, I am living my dream today. And that is the energy you're going to get from me every single day I walk into that office across the street. And I have a name for it. I call it dream energy. And I believe it's the most powerful force on the planet. But here's the catch, and I've learned this in the last 36 hours, mine alone won't do it. This is too big. I need all of your dream energy, okay?"

Bartholomae said that from the Board of Trustees, he needs their belief, support and collaboration to be successful with his goals for the university, entailing a plan "beyond just one or two years," he said.

"That might sound bureaucratic (but) I promise you it won't be," Bartholomae said. "It'll be a living plan. We'll all participate in it."

Aside from his and Guskiewicz' mutual love of the Steelers, a big draw for Bartholomae was the warmth of the people at MSU, including 31-season men's head basketball coach Tom Izzo. Years before, Izzo had called him offering his advice when he heard of a new professional in the state with big dreams and aspirations.

Bartholomae also had been scoping out MSU well before his hiring and visited with his family.

"I've had my eye on this place. Kevin knows that. Others know that too," Bartholomae said. "I've walked around these events, we've played here, and I've taken notes. And this was the one I wanted, always has been, and I'm really glad to be here."

Although he starts on Aug. 31, Bartholomae said at the press conference that he’s already been meeting with several coaches to understand where their priorities lie.

"No secret, roster development is the top priority, and it should be. And there's a new transactional component to that, and it's one that we're going to take really seriously," Bartholomae said. "I'm still learning where we fit in the Big Ten. And so, what I would tell you is we're going to start with: We want to win the Big Ten. Because if you win the Big Ten, you win national championships."

He also sat down with interim athletic director Jon Palumbo, who serves as Spartan Ventures' CEO, to discuss how the fundraising entity can help leverage patron support to fulfill that vision.

Addressing recent uncertainty in the athletic department, Guskiewicz said Bartholomae was a long-term pick. 

"Change is difficult and there's been a lot of change over the past decade," Guskiewicz said. "And because they believe in the place, the staff believes in the place, and the way that Dan builds relationships quickly and has already done that over the past week, I think we're going to be in a good place. But this guy's going to be here for a long time, and I think you're going to be pleased."