Former MSU interim athletic director hired by Kentucky

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Michigan State University's deputy athletics director Jon Palumbo, who served as interim AD for nearly two months after J Batt's departure, is following Batt to the University of Kentucky, where he will serve as executive deputy athletics director, Kentucky announced Tuesday. Palumbo replaced Batt after he left for Kentucky in July, following university President Kevin Guskiewicz's May decision to leave amid turmoil with the Board of Trustees. In July, Guskiewicz told Clemson's board he would stay at MSU. Batt's contract at Michigan State included a $5 million buyout clause if a team wanted to poach him, but a provision in the clause reduced the buyout to $2.5 million if Guskiewicz were to leave. MSU said the university and Kentucky negotiated a $3.95 million buyout clause for Batt's contract. Michigan State hired Dan Bartholomae, the former Western Michigan athletics director, last month after years of increased fundraising and athletics success in Kalamazoo. Kentucky Athletics called Palumbo a 'nationally respected leader with extensive experience across sports business in college athletics' in a social media post announcing his appointment. Palumbo has also been named the deputy CEO of Champions Blue, LLC.Submit Correction Δ