Michigan State University Athletics
10/23/2026 10:00:00 AM | General
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Possessing a wealth of experience in brand building, innovative revenue generation and sports administration, Mike Polisky has been named Michigan State Deputy Athletics Director and Spartan Ventures CEO, MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae announced.
"We're excited to welcome Mike Polisky to the Michigan State family," said Bartholomae. "This is a critical time for our department, and Mike's leadership will be vital to our championship aspirations.
"At every stop of his professional journey, both inside and outside college athletics, his career has been defined by innovation, revenue generation, and brand growth, resulting in a powerful connection between the team and the community. He will be a strong addition to our team as we define our vision for the future of Michigan State Athletics."
"Mike Polisky is the right choice to guide Spartan Ventures during this formational stage of the organization," said Phil Hickey, Chair, Spartan Ventures Board of Directors. "Among his diverse set of experiences, one commonality has been his effectiveness at driving and maximizing revenue. The Board looks forward to working with him on the important work ahead in support of Michigan State Athletics and Spartan student-athletes."
As Spartan Ventures CEO, Polisky will implement strategic priorities, maximize revenue opportunities, both existing and new streams, and optimize operations in support of Michigan State Athletics. In his role as Deputy AD, he will serve as the primary sport administrator for the football and men's golf programs and will provide strategic leadership across various units in the department.
"I'd like to thank President Guskiewicz, AD Bartholomae, the Spartan Ventures Board and the talented leadership within the Michigan State athletic department for their support and belief in me," said Polisky. "My previous collegiate experiences were among the most meaningful and rewarding of my career, and gave me a deep appreciation for the passion, tradition, and extraordinary sense of community that make college athletics so special. To have the opportunity to return to that environment at a place with the rich history, national stature, and passionate following of Michigan State is truly special and feels like coming home.
"College athletics is entering one of the most transformative periods in its history, and I believe Michigan State is uniquely positioned to lead in this new era. I'm energized by the opportunity to work with the student-athletes, the talented coaches and staff throughout Spartan Athletics, and the entire MSU community. I couldn't be more excited to be a Spartan."
Polisky's varied experiences include 11 years at Northwestern University. During his time in Evanston, he was responsible for leading a transformation of the Wildcats' public-facing brand and strategy, overseeing ticket sales and service, marketing, fan experience, corporate sponsorships, media and public relations, creative services, broadcast operations and community relations, as well as Northwestern's relationships with its media partners.
Beyond his external experience, Polisky is a proven sport administrator, with responsibilities for numerous Wildcat athletics programs during his tenure, including women's golf during its 2017 NCAA stroke play championship season, men's basketball when it earned its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2017, and football during a stretch in which the program captured its first two Big Ten West Division titles as well as Citrus Bowl and Holiday Bowl Championships. During his time in Evanston, the Wildcats won conference or NCAA championships in lacrosse, field hockey, women's basketball, women's golf, women's tennis, wrestling, fencing, women's soccer, and swimming and diving, along with four consecutive bowl titles.
From a branding perspective, Polisky developed and introduced the first comprehensive marketing campaign in the history of Northwestern Athletics, "Chicago's Big Ten Team." The wide-ranging strategy produced gains in awareness, sales and fan interest as the season ticket base doubled in size as the department set five ticket revenue records in a nine-year period. At the same time, men's basketball season tickets doubled with revenues hitting record highs in 10 consecutive seasons on campus. Polisky also brought collaboration between Northwestern and the Chicago Cubs, as football, baseball and lacrosse all competed at Wrigley Field.
Polisky comes to Michigan State after more than four years as the President of the Association of Pickleball Professionals, where he led strategic initiatives to advance professional pickleball. His vision helped shape the competitive landscape and created opportunities for professional players worldwide.
Before joining Northwestern, Polisky served as the team president of the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. He re-invigorated the brand, increasing all revenue numbers to previous franchise highs in his two seasons.
Prior to that, Polisky served as the president and general manager of the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League for eight seasons, overseeing all business and football operations. He was honored as the AFL's Executive of the Year in 2008. During his tenure, the franchise was awarded the AFL Commissioner's Award as the league's "Organization of the Year" three times. The Rush realized attendance increases every year, led the AFL in corporate sponsorships five consecutive years, and was awarded top honors in gameday operations, community relations, public relations and marketing. When the AFL suspended operations, he was immediately asked to serve as president of the Wolves.
Polisky earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Iowa and is an Executive Education graduate of the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, with three certificates from the Management and Leadership programs.
His family includes his daughters, Mia and Anna, and a son, Sam.
