J Batt’s new job start date and the terms of his contract buyout are set. His departure from Michigan State’s athletic department remains unclear.
Batt will take over officially as Kentucky athletic director on July 28. According to his new school, UK will pay MSU a $3.95 million buyout for breaking the six-year, $12.6 million-plus contract Batt signed last year when he was hired by MSU.
A source with knowledge of the situation told the Free Press the terms of the buyout were negotiated down from the $5 million MSU was owed with Batt’s contract. MSU spokesman Matt Larson later confirmed the terms. That deal had an escape clause that cut his buyout in half if MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz were to depart, but Guskiewicz announced Monday that he would remain in East Lansing rather than taking the job at Clemson he initially accepted May 27.
READY FOR THE FALL: Michigan State basketball will face Marquette in exhibition game
Emily Gerkin Guerrant, MSU’s vice president and chief communications officer, told the Free Press on Monday that Batt remains an employee and is reporting to work at the school. No departure date has been determined, she said, but she expected that to be finalized soon.
Batt will take over officially as Kentucky athletic director on July 28. According to his new school, UK will pay MSU a $3.95 million buyout for breaking the six-year, $12.6 million-plus contract Batt signed last year when he was hired by MSU.
A source with knowledge of the situation told the Free Press the terms of the buyout were negotiated down from the $5 million MSU was owed with Batt’s contract. MSU spokesman Matt Larson later confirmed the terms. That deal had an escape clause that cut his buyout in half if MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz were to depart, but Guskiewicz announced Monday that he would remain in East Lansing rather than taking the job at Clemson he initially accepted May 27.
READY FOR THE FALL: Michigan State basketball will face Marquette in exhibition game
Emily Gerkin Guerrant, MSU’s vice president and chief communications officer, told the Free Press on Monday that Batt remains an employee and is reporting to work at the school. No departure date has been determined, she said, but she expected that to be finalized soon.
20 days ago
