J Batt contract details are out -- and Kentucky's new AD got PAID!

[WildcatWally-77]

Batt will average $3 million annually, making him one of the highest-paid ADs in college sports, starting with a total of $2,600,000 in 2026-27 — $400K in base salary, $2.2M in supplemental compensation.

• 2026 – $2.6 million
• 2027 – $2.75 million
• 2028 – $2.9 million
• 2029 – $3.05 million
• 2030 – $3.2 million
• 2031 – $3.35 million UK will also pay his buyout with MSU, which sits at $2.5 million after dropping from $5 million following President Kevin Guskiewicz’s departure to Clemson for the same position.Only four ADs made more than $2 million last year, according to Sportico, including Penn State’s Patrick Kraft ($3.15M), Ohio State’s Gene Smith ($2.5M), Texas’s Chris Del Conte ($2.42M) and Texas Tech’s Hocutt ($2.14M).

Login to your account | On3.com

www.on3.com

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I'm okay with all of that as long as he returns UK basketball to glory.

 

[MidseasonTweak]

UK said they're serious about tackling this NIL era in sports. I think we have some good to great years ahead.

 

[TarHeelInCharlotte]

That's absolutely awesome. I'm so happy his bank account is getting loaded.

 

[Goingfor9]

I'm okay with all of that as long as he returns UK basketball to glory.

Hopefully the program still has the IT factor and can come alive regardless of the AD. Whatever brings titles I hope Batt has IT.

 

[DudahUK]

I believe he’s the second highest paid AD next to Ohio States AD. Impressive. Scared money don’t make money.

I wonder what Mitch truly thinks of all this? lol. Clown.

 

[mhs1964]

You can believe this is acceptable but i think crazy as a first contract. Either way this will be a blade hanging over his neck when we go under five hundred in FB or don't make a final four in BB.

 

[KyKevin]

Think about this though, Mark Pope makes almost twice as much as his boss

 

[Bluegrasskingreboot]

You can believe this is acceptable but i think crazy as a first contract. Either way this will be a blade hanging over his neck when we go under five hundred in FB or don't make a final four in BB.

Dude is supposedly a huge fundraiser so that salary is just a beak wetter for what he can bring in.

The coaches are in place, let him do his part so they may do their's and if they don't play out we will have a look at how he hires but wins and losses just isn't the current assignment in a nuts and bolts fashion.

I will be looking at resources, investments, and direction aka stuff that will take some time to see.

 

[Bluegrasskingreboot]

Think about this though, Mark Pope makes almost twice as much as his boss

He even has to carry Milan's luggage once he gets Pope's to the room.

 

[Johnnie Africa]

Making half as much as Milan

 

[KYAnywhereEverywhere]

I just don't understand UK being able to spend on the same level as much bigger or much wealthier schools. UK has nothing like the enrollment numbers or donor wealth as the University of Texas. How can it spend on a similar level? UK is not nearly as big as the University of Florida or Ohio State or ASU. Those schools are pushing twice the size as UK; how can Kentucky spend on equivalent levels, whether that's NIL or general athletics budget?

Eli had to be part of this hire. People wanted Eli to prioritize sports more. I guess this shows he was willing to. Or at least willing to say, "do what you want."

 

[mhs1964]

I just don't understand UK being able to spend on the same level as much bigger or much wealthier schools. UK has nothing like the enrollment numbers or donor wealth as the University of Texas. How can it spend on a similar level? UK is not nearly as big as the University of Florida or Ohio State or ASU. Those schools are pushing twice the size as UK; how can Kentucky spend on equivalent levels, whether that's NIL or general athletics budget?

Eli had to be part of this hire. People wanted Eli to prioritize sports more. I guess this shows he was willing to. Or at least willing to say, "do what you want."

Yea, this has the smell of desperation. Certainly hopes it works out.

 

[CB3UK]

As long as football, basketball, and baseball win, everything else is window dressing.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

Dude is supposedly a huge fundraiser so that salary is just a beak wetter for what he can bring in.

The coaches are in place, let him do his part so they may do their's and if they don't play out we will have a look at how he hires but wins and losses just isn't the current assignment in a nuts and bolts fashion.

I will be looking at resources, investments, and direction aka stuff that will take some time to see.

Depends on how he plans to raise said funds. It was pitched as he would do a much better job at raising money from boosters. However all his messaging so far is laying the foundation to raise money from fans using drip methods.

If it is the latter, fans will be irate when they figure out they're being dripped till they drown.

 

[RationalKentuckyFan]

Fleeced the University and now he's about to fleece the fans. As long as he makes Kentucky basketball a contender again I suppose I'm okay with it though. Anything to get the ninth championship.

 

[TouchdownUK]

Look at the track record for handing out bad contracts around here at Kentucky. Cal's life time contract, Stoops awful contract. Not to mention what was about to happen with Mitch until the governor came out against it. UK is just continuing the trend. Apparently money does grow on tree's at the University of Kentucky.

 

[JakeKx]

It’s crazy how much money we’ve prioritized to sports across the country. An AD job should be 250K max at anywhere

 

[BlueSince92]

Incidentally who is Duke’s AD and what does he see in them that we haven’t got?

 

[CameronCat22]

Look at the track record for handing out bad contracts around here at Kentucky. Cal's life time contract, Stoops awful contract. Not to mention what was about to happen with Mitch until the governor came out against it. UK is just continuing the trend. Apparently money does grow on tree's at the University of Kentucky.

Cal’s “lifetime contract”, AKA 6 year extension with the opportunity to become ambassador for the program in retirement? It was universally celebrated at the time. Never stop laughing at how fake these brainwashed frauds are.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Give Stein whatever he needs to be a contender. So far he's earned it with his recruiting efforts. Make our NIL revenue share match our conference foes would be a great start.

 

[MaysviileKY]

I looked up that Barnhart was making $1.6 mill (1.55 to be exact) and they were going to pay him $1 mill to do basically nothing. So, the $2.6 mill they are paying Batt is the exact amount they were going to pay Barnhart + another AD. Seems they already had that amount allocated.

 

[CatBearPig]

I looked up that Barnhart was making $1.6 mill (1.55 to be exact) and they were going to pay him $1 mill to do basically nothing. So, the $2.6 mill they are paying Batt is the exact amount they were going to pay Barnhart + another AD. Seems they already had that amount allocated.

He’d have been a better AD if he would have done nothing. Mitch Barnhart damn near destroyed UK athletics.

 

[Snarks]

UK throws money around with crazy contracts. Then acts like they don’t have any money.