Mark Hollis tells AP he’s interested in Michigan State job after Kentucky hires J Batt
Michigan State’s athletic director search intensifies after J Batt’s sudden departure for Kentucky, with former MSU AD Mark Hollis now openly expressing interest in returning. Coach Tom Izzo has condemned the instability, calling the situation a ‘shame.’ The school faces an urgent need to fill both its president and AD positions following recent high-profile exits.
What changed
Mark Hollis explicitly told the AP he is interested in the Michigan State AD job, adding to prior reports of his consideration.
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Mark Hollis confirms interest in Michigan State AD role amid leadership crisis
confidence 97%Michigan State’s athletic director search intensifies after J Batt’s sudden departure for Kentucky, with former MSU AD Mark Hollis now openly expressing interest in returning. Coach Tom Izzo has condemned the instability, calling the situation a ‘shame.’ The school faces an urgent need to fill both its president and AD positions following recent high-profile exits.
What's confirmed:
- Michigan State coach Tom Izzo called the school’s leadership turmoil ‘a shame,’ criticizing the instability created by the departures of President Kevin M. Guskiewicz and athletic director J Batt.
- Mark Hollis has confirmed to the AP that he is interested in returning to the Michigan State athletic director role if offered the position.
- Kentucky hired J Batt as its new athletic director, triggering Michigan State’s latest leadership crisis.
- Michigan State now lacks both a president and an athletic director, leaving its athletic program without top-level leadership.
Still unconfirmed:
- Izzo reportedly called the situation ‘kind of disgusting’ in reaction to Batt’s departure, though this claim has not been independently corroborated beyond one local outlet.
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Mark Hollis expresses interest in Michigan State AD role amid leadership turmoil
confidence 96%Michigan State’s athletic director J Batt was hired by Kentucky on Monday, leaving the Spartans without an AD weeks after President Kevin M. Guskiewicz departed for Clemson. Former MSU AD Mark Hollis has told multiple outlets he is interested in returning to the role if asked. Coach Tom Izzo criticized Batt’s departure as destabilizing. The school now faces an urgent search for a new athletics leader.
What's confirmed:
- Michigan State athletic director J Batt was hired by the University of Kentucky on Monday, June 16, 2026, following a reported pursuit by Kentucky officials.
- Mark Hollis, former Michigan State athletic director, has stated he is interested in returning to the role if the university seeks his candidacy.
- Michigan State president Kevin M. Guskiewicz announced his departure for Clemson at the end of May, creating a leadership crisis alongside the loss of Batt.
- Coach Tom Izzo criticized J Batt’s departure, calling it ‘kind of disgusting’ and expressing frustration over the timing of leadership changes.
- Kentucky’s hiring of Batt follows his departure from Georgia Tech, where he served for over a year before joining Michigan State.
Still unconfirmed:
- Michigan State may consider a return to past leadership as a strategy to stabilize its athletics program.
- Kentucky’s hiring of Batt was finalized after a competitive process that included internal discussions about succession planning.