Michigan State athletic director J. Batt, hired in June 2025, is reported to be a finalist for the athletic director position at Kentucky, according to Yahoo Sports. The reports indicate Kentucky is actively considering Batt as its next athletic director after evaluating candidates for the role. Batt’s current position is with Michigan State, where he took over the athletics director job in June 2025. The sources do not provide details on when Kentucky’s selection process began, who the other finalists may be, or whether an announcement is imminent. They also do not specify what factors are driving Kentucky’s search. As of the reports, Batt remains the Michigan State athletics director and is being considered for the Kentucky job rather than confirmed for it. The information is presented as part of Kentucky’s hiring process and Batt’s candidacy, reflecting that he is in contention for the role.