Grade the Hire of the New Athletic Director - J Batt

[Farsight Clone]

J Batt was Michigan State's AD

He is apparently a master fundraiser

Not apart of Mitch's sphere of influence, fresh AD

Not sure where he stands on understanding that UK Basketball should be #1A and Football should be #1B

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

I voted A because I know he is a big fundraiser and has big donor friends.

I will change my vote if basketball doesn’t get the TLC it needs

I think football is about to step into a new gear. That part is exciting.

 

[Skyguyb27]

I’m going A on this one. Not part of the JMI ordeal
And outside the current regime. Now just gotta hope Eli lets him do it his way.

 

[Titpwhahi2014]

Homerun, absolute homerun

 

[UKCowboys]

Grade A. Welcome change

 

[Johnnie Africa]

I voted A because I know he is a big fundraiser and has big donor friends.

I will change my vote if basketball doesn’t get the TLC it needs

I think football is about to step into a new gear. That part is exciting.

Alabama hired Oats under him and Izzo just had one of his best recruiting classes so both school bball programs were in great shape under him. Also he just came from a school with a passionate bball fan base so he had some familiarity with that dynamic which I view as a positive.

 

[mhs1964]

Please explain to me how having big donor friends translates to donations to UK. I’m sure with where he’s worked he has met and probably befriended many large donors. I’m not being pessimistic about the hire. It looks good but immediately we have many with probably unrealistic expectations

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Please explain to me how having big donor friends translates to donations to UK. I’m sure with where he’s worked he has met and probably befriended many large donors. I’m not being pessimistic about the hire. It looks good but immediately we have many with probably unrealistic expectations

He brings friends with him who give money to the program he works for.

Think Calipari when it comes to recruiting. That’s the way this guy is for fundraising. He’s a brand to himself in that regard

Or at least that’s how I understood it. Big influx of money with this dude

 

[nicky]

J Batt was Michigan State's AD

He is apparently a master fundraiser

Not apart of Mitch's sphere of influence, fresh AD

Not sure where he stands on understanding that UK Basketball should be #1A and Football should be #1B

If he's from MSU, he obviously is aware of the importance of basketball

 

[Farsight Clone]

He brings friends with him who give money to the program he works for.

Think Calipari when it comes to recruiting. That’s the way this guy is for fundraising. He’s a brand to himself in that regard

Or at least that’s how I understood it. Big influx of money with this dude

So the newd AD is like a Calipari in recruiting in fundraising?

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

So the newd AD is like a Calipari in recruiting in fundraising?

That’s how people are talking about him yes. Like he’s the literal best of the best in fundraising. He has rich friends who provide donor support to him wherever he is, so he is effective regardless of school.

 

[kywildcat1021979]

A+ sounds like our programs will be in really good hands. We will finally be rid of that stench of Mitch that's been stinking the place up for 24 years...

 

[RationalKentuckyFan]

Upon hearing other people's opinions and further reflection I believe it's much too early to give a definitive grade. The premise of the question is off. I believe we need to see at least two years from him before we come to any conclusions barring something incredible or terrible in those first two years.

 

[Pensacola_Cat_Fan]

Nobody knows other than reports they’ve heard from others. No way for fans on here to vote with any insight.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

Homerun, absolute homerun

This. No association with Mitch's cabal. Master fundraiser. That's crucial because its all that matters now and we are so far behind in that area.

Now he needs to stop the nonsense of directing too much money away from basketball and football. Ya it sucks, but those are the only two sports that generate revenue, so it is what it is.

 

[Maddmatt87]

Please explain to me how having big donor friends translates to donations to UK. I’m sure with where he’s worked he has met and probably befriended many large donors. I’m not being pessimistic about the hire. It looks good but immediately we have many with probably unrealistic expectations

Imagine you're BFFs with someone like Elon Musk. They have more money than they know what to do with, and sometimes like to spend it just to have their name or brand tied to something. They also don't really have a preference in sports teams. You're probably gonna get the donations from your buddy wherever you go.

 

[exo6desmo]

I give the hire an A, just on the surface. I don't know much about him other than what everyone else has said. Young and energetic, big fundraiser, should fully enable the football program. He's not Mitch, isn't in the old boy club with Eli, he knows about JMI and it didn't scare him away.

 

[MidseasonTweak]

A

 

[JPFisher]

Saying C until I understand the breadth of his work. Fundraising is one part of being an AD. He seems better for football than basketball from the get go, which is nice, but I don't want that to detract from the basketball program.

Some mixed opinions of his hires at Michigan State.

I think he can do well, but I'm in a wait-and-see pattern right now, so a C.

 

[NociHTTP]

Not the worst and not the best. Nothing to get excited for but nothing to hate.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

J Batt was Michigan State's AD

He is apparently a master fundraiser

Not apart of Mitch's sphere of influence, fresh AD

Not sure where he stands on understanding that UK Basketball should be #1A and Football should be #1B

On the surface for the NIL era, A. He’s outside the Mitch/JMI bubble which we all wanted. Huge win. It’s yet to be determined how he does so a B or even C Is reasonable since he hasn’t been around long. Made some solid hires though. Fundraising savant apparently which we desperately need.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Imagine you're BFFs with someone like Elon Musk. They have more money than they know what to do with, and sometimes like to spend it just to have their name or brand tied to something. They also don't really have a preference in sports teams. You're probably gonna get the donations from your buddy wherever you go.

We need to get Elon to be a UK fan. He could fund any basketball team we want for eternity now.

 

[Mulder14]

Not the worst and not the best. Nothing to get excited for but nothing to hate.w

 

[Mulder14]

Not the worst and not the best. Nothing to get excited for but nothing to hate.

Who would have been the best?

 

[KentuckyStout]

Don't know, but getting rid of Mitch Barnhart feels like getting a squatter out of your house.

 

[Ukdaddy98]

He’s the hot new girl. Everyone is seeemingly in love. I’m gonna sit back and watch. Ask me this in a couple years.

 

[TeamAmerica]

Haven't seen Michigan State be relevant in any sport for a long time.

 

[CameronCat22]

I give the hire an A, just on the surface. I don't know much about him other than what everyone else has said. Young and energetic, big fundraiser, should fully enable the football program. He's not Mitch, isn't in the old boy club with Eli, he knows about JMI and it didn't scare him away.

He should have read the experts on this board and learned about all the restrictions, handcuffs, and other vague accusations before taking the job. UK athletics is supposedly dead until 2040.

 

[LadyCaytIL]

We will see how much basketball is supported but going for a great fund raiser and guy with new fresh ideas and doing well in this new NIL era is progress over Barnhart for sure

 

[CameronCat22]

This. No association with Mitch's cabal. Master fundraiser. That's crucial because it’s all that matters now and we are so far behind in that area.

Now he needs to stop the nonsense of directing too much money away from basketball and football. Ya it sucks, but those are the only two sports that generate revenue, so it is what it is.

How far behind are we in that area, just curious? Just a rough ballpark estimate. How long will it take Will Stein to be able to recruit on the level of Pat Fitzgerald who is far ahead of us in fundraising without any of the restrictions that we have at UK?

 

[Cat_Man_Blue]

Haven't seen Michigan State be relevant in any sport for a long time.

He was only there for one year. Things seemed to be heading in the right direction under his leadership.

 

[megablue]

It will be interesting to see how he handles the UK soccer program, as he played on a National Championship team at North Carolina.
I assume he still loves the speckled ball ...

J Batt - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Snarks]

I’m just happy they actually went outside the Mitch B sphere. Hopefully Rachel Baker and Marc Hill get booted out too!

 

[KyKevin]

Nobody knows other than reports they’ve heard from others. No way for fans on here to vote with any insight.

Give him two years, and if he is not getting it done, then give him the Pope treatment. Is he Mormon, some of these guys will want to know his religion, so they can fkn attack that.

I’m just happy they actually went outside the Mitch B sphere. Hopefully Rachel Baker and Marc Hill get booted out too!

My exact thought

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

How far behind are we in that area, just curious? Just a rough ballpark estimate. How long will it take Will Stein to be able to recruit on the level of Pat Fitzgerald who is far ahead of us in fundraising without any of the restrictions that we have at UK?

Good question. All we know is Mitch actively prevented any nil anything for about two years.

My understanding, from what little I actually know, is the money is ok right now. Most of it comes from Joe Craft, to no surprise. Some others stepped up too but we need more to take the next step. Stein can only punch up so far.

The thing no one in the sec wants to admit is what I posted a couple of years ago: the big 10 is outspending everyone and by a wide margin. Unless caps are put in place, they will just keep dominating at the top of football. We'll never outspend them, but we can both get more money and get more for our money. I think j batt can get us there.

 

[Anon673183]

A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Yep I’m now up to A+.

He’s the dude

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Yep I’m now up to A+.

He’s the dude

As long as we don't sacrifice $$ in football I'll agree. We need to be on par with the confference in NIL revenue share

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

As long as we don't sacrifice $$ in football I'll agree. We need to be on par with the confference in NIL revenue share

BVG, I actually think you should be ecstatic. This AD should be the best we have ever had for FB. He also understands the standard in basketball as well. Sounds like he’s confident we can be great in both and we can all be happy.

 

[Tim0808]

He brings friends with him who give money to the program he works for.

Think Calipari when it comes to recruiting. That’s the way this guy is for fundraising. He’s a brand to himself in that regard

Or at least that’s how I understood it. Big influx of money with this dude

That will not help Kentucky basketball recruiting. Kentucky’s recruiting problems have not been money issues.

Hopefully, Coach Williams has fixed some of our issues.