J Batt

J Batt was named the 10th full-time director of athletics in Georgia Tech history on Oct. 14, 2022, and officially took the reins of Tech athletics 10 days later, on Oct. 24, 2022. He was promoted to Institute vice president on Dec. 6, 2024.

In two years under Batt’s leadership, Georgia Tech athletics’ impressive achievements include:

• the highly regarded hires of Georgia Tech alumnus Brent Key as the 21^sthead coach in Tech football history and former All-American and NBA All-Star Damon Stoudamire as the Yellow Jackets’ 15^th men’s basketball head coach;
• a record-breaking $78.2 million in contributions to the Alexander-Tharpe Fund (Georgia Tech athletics’ fundraising arm) during Batt’s first full fiscal year at the helm (FY 2024), shattering the previous single-year record by 43%;
• the launch of Full Steam Ahead, a $500 million fundraising initiative – of which nearly $300 million has already been pledged – to enhance infrastructure across multiple athletics facilities (including a renovation of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field), deliver a best-in-class gameday experience for Yellow Jackets fans and provide the resources needed to navigate the ever-changing landscape of top-level college sports;
• a monumental multi-decade partnership with Hyundai, which provides transformative revenue for Tech athletics;
• historic academic success, with a record 94% NCAA Graduation Success Rate and the highest mean grade point average in Tech athletics history (3.25 – spring 2024).

Georgia Tech has also taken a big step towards re-establishing itself as one of college athletics’ premier programs under Batt, highlighted by back-to-back football bowl berths for the first time since 2013-14, a plethora of high-profile gridiron victories, including a 28-23 win over previously unbeaten and No. 4-ranked Miami (Fla.) in November, and the program’s first appearance in the Associated Press top 25 in nine years.

Other achievements include 14 of Tech’s 17 teams earning a spot in postseason competitions in Batt’s first full year at the helm (2023-24), consecutive NCAA semifinals appearances for golf, an NCAA Sweet 16 berth for volleyball and notable men’s basketball victories over nationally ranked opponents Duke, North Carolina and Mississippi State.

Batt came to The Flats after serving as executive deputy director of athletics, chief operating officer and chief revenue officer at Alabama for five years (2017-22). He joined Alabama athletics’ administration as senior associate athletics director, was promoted to COO and senior deputy athletic director in 2021 and to executive deputy director, COO and chief revenue officer in 2022.

At Alabama, he was responsible for guiding revenue generating, including charitable giving, ticketing, Tide Pride, and other revenue sources. Batt oversaw the successful development, implementation, and launch of the Crimson Standard, Alabama Athletics’ 10-year, $600 million capital initiative. He also provided day-to-day leadership of the department as a member of the Athletics executive team and served as the sport administrator for men’s basketball.

Widely regarded as one of college athletics’ top fundraisers, Batt served as senior associate athletic director and executive director of the Pirate Club at East Carolina from 2013 to 2017. As a member of the ECU athletics executive leadership team, Batt oversaw a development operation that increased total fundraising in 2016 by more than 60% over ECU’s previous best year.

He also served as associate A.D. and executive director of Maryland’s Terrapin Club from 2011 to 2013. He joined the Terrapin Club staff in 2009 before being promoted to executive director beginning in 2011.

Before his four-year tenure at Maryland, Batt held positions in athletics fundraising at James Madison, William & Mary and his alma mater, North Carolina.

A member of the Tar Heels’ 2001 NCAA champion men’s soccer team, Batt earned both a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications and a master’s degree in sports administration from UNC.

Batt and his wife, Leah, have two sons: Fitz and Graham.