Haller out as AD...

[Spartanmack]

Not a ton of details but apparently Haller's last day with the program will be May 11th, Deputy AD Jennifer Smith and Tom Izzo to serve as interim AD until Haller's replacement is found.

I've been less than impressed with him as AD. One of his first moves was to give that moronic contract extension to Tucker. I suppose he did hire Adam Nightingale but I think the guy was in over his head as AD. His hiring seems to fit a pattern though. In my opinion, we haven't had very good leadership in that role for much of the almost 40 years that I've followed the program closely.

 

[Michchamp]

He never should have been hired as AD in the first place.

Hopefully they hire a legit, experienced candidate, not some hanger-on former jock turned local cop who was unemployable outside East Lansing.

 

[Michchamp]

Hey, MSU hired a new Athletic Director! I'm surprised you guys weren't all over this!

His name is J Batt. Not, "Jay," just the letter "J." Saves space!

This article in MLive says he brings "Tremendous Innovation" to MSU. And mentions the word "fundraising" several times, which was of course the knock on Haller, that he was completely unprepared for the new world of NIL deals.

I know you guys hate reading, so I can summarize his history here:

Looks like he's around my age (mid 40's); I can't find the year he graduated, but was on the Tarheels' soccer team in 2001.

From his BIO at GaTech, has a BA in Journalism and an MA in "Sports Administration" both from UNC.

He was GaTech's AD for the last two years; prior to that, he was an Assistant AD or something along those lines at Bama, ECU, Maryland, UNC, and a couple smaller colleges in that region. I guess MD is his only Big Ten connection, but not sure if they were in the conference while he was there.

He looks like this:

One other fact which might concern you guys. This is one of his "achievements" on his GaTech profile:

"a monumental multi-decade partnership with Hyundai, which provides transformative revenue for Tech athletics;"​

I think players get better cars than Hyundais in the Big Ten. He better step it up. Ohio State was giving every player a Charger as the "entry level model" for talent there over a decade ago!

 

[Spartanmack]

Still living rent free in your head…