Michigan State is turning to its third athletic director in two years after J. Batt left for Kentucky just over a year into the job. Now, it has found his replacement.
The Spartans didn't have to look outside Michigan, as they are reportedly hiring Western Michigan AD Dan Bartholomae, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. Bartholomae has been in his role in Kalamazoo since 2022, and he has overseen considerable success.
The Broncos won their first national championship in hockey in 2025, and Bartholomae hired football coach Lance Taylor, who led the school to a MAC title this past season. He has proven chops as a fundraiser as well, and WMU raised a record $21.8 million in 2025-26.
Sources: Western Michigan athletic director Dan Bartholomae is finalizing a deal to become the athletic director at Michigan State. He's led WMU to a national title in hockey and the school is coming off a MAC title in football. He's led the school to record-breaking… pic.twitter.com/YxpfbCyDMj
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 17, 2026
The 46-year-old inherits a football coach hired by his predecessor this past offseason, Pat Fitzgerald, and he could soon find himself in the position of having to replace longtime men's basketball coach Tom Izzo, who is 71 and enters his 31st season in East Lansing this fall.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Michigan State tabs MAC athletic director to replace J Batt