Michigan State is making a million dollars less on the buyout for Kentucky-bound athletic director J Batt.
But for the first time since he announced his impending departure June 15, Michigan State knows when his last day will be.The University of Kentucky announced Thursday evening that Batt will start as its new athletic director July 28, more than a month after he initially accepted the job. Kentucky also announced that it will pay a $3.95 million buyout to Michigan State.
Kentucky and Batt agreed to terms June 17 on a six-year deal paying nearly $3 million per year, which ranks Batt top-five among NCAA peers. Since then, he has continued working for Michigan State, and no interim replacement has been named.Because Batt leaves East Lansing before the expiration of his six-year, $12.6 million deal with Michigan State, Batt and Kentucky owe MSU a liquidated buyout.
By Batt’s contract, that figure is $5 million, but when President Kevin Guskiewicz was bound for Clemson, an exit clause cut it in half. It was during that period of time that Kentucky and Batt agreed to contract terms.However on Monday, Guskiewicz reneged on his decision to join Clemson, and is now staying at Michigan State. That bumped the buyout for Batt back up to $5 million.It is believed that the $3.95 million was a negotiated amount between the two schools. The Detroit News reached out to representatives of both schools. Neither has responded yet as of publication.cearegood@detroitnews.com
@ConnorEaregood
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: J Batt to officially start at Kentucky July 28; MSU to receive $3.95M
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