From the Desk of J Batt
3/17/2026
Spartans,
As Coach Izzo says, March is a special month at Michigan State. It’s the time of year when the madness of postseason captures the hearts and minds of Spartans everywhere.
Thursday, the men’s basketball team opens the NCAA Tournament against North Dakota State in Buffalo, New York, marking the 28th consecutive tournament for our Spartans – a streak that is officially recognized by the NCAA as matching the longest streak in men’s tournament history. Coach Izzo is the only men’s basketball head coach to ever lead his team to 28 straight tournaments. Friday, the women’s basketball team begins NCAA Tournament play as the No. 5 seed against Colorado State in Norman, Oklahoma. It’s the highest seed for the women’s team since 2016.
The postseason excitement also extends beyond the hardwood. This weekend, our hockey team, who earlier this month earned a third straight Big Ten regular-season championship, will learn its NCAA Tournament seeding and begin the quest for a Frozen Four and more. Saturday, our nationally ranked gymnastics team opens its postseason in the Big Ten Championships at Illinois with the NCAA Championships selection show to follow on Monday. The Spartans are entering the championship season on a high note, as Nikki Smith recorded a perfect 10.000 on the floor exercise Sunday.
Individually, Clayton Jones (149 pounds) and Kael Wisler (197 pounds) will represent Michigan State at the NCAA Wrestling Championships beginning this Thursday in Cleveland. And special congratulations to Elle Adrian (weight throw) and Dillon Morlock (shot put), who each earned All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend.
At the same time, our spring sports (baseball, softball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, and rowing) are competing in pursuit of their own success. Just this past Sunday, men’s tennis defeated No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus, handing the Buckeyes their first Big Ten home loss since 2003. As the spring weather begins to take hold, I encourage you to come out and support our student-athletes.
This morning, Spartan Football held its first spring practice under head coach Pat Fitzgerald. After a couple months of preseason workouts, I know Coach Fitzgerald is excited to get his team together on the practice field. There’s great momentum within the program as they establish the foundation and culture on which championship programs are built.
The Spartan family has fully welcomed Coach Fitzgerald and he’s determined to have a program of which all Spartans can be proud. He voiced this commitment in a recent interview with college football analyst David Pollack.
“(We’re going to) give our fan base what they richly deserve – and that’s a tough, tough physical football team. That’s what Spartan football has always been … Toughness was born here. Physicality was born here in East Lansing!”
The Football Spring Showcase, on April 18, will provide a public opportunity to see the team on the field as well as to interact with Coach Fitzgerald and his team at the event. We hope to see many of you at Spartan Stadium that day.
Spartan Ventures Update
As our coaches and student-athletes strive for competitive excellence every day, our department is also working to build the structure that supports growth and opportunity for our programs and student-athletes. In a landscape shaped by NIL, media valuations and growing revenue demands, college athletic departments must think differently to remain competitive. MSU Athletics is doing just that with the formation of Spartan Ventures.
When I was approached about joining Michigan State University, it was clear that bold ideas and a vision for elevating Spartan Athletics were priorities. Together with President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. and our outstanding athletics team, we’ve spent the past nine months advancing that vision.
In October, the MSU Board of Trustees unanimously approved the creation of Spartan Ventures — a modernized structure aligning commercial operations to increase efficiency and flexibility.
Rather than strain under the current model, MSU Athletics partnered with university leadership to create an environment where our department can continue excelling in game-day operations, facilities management, competitive performance, and student-athlete well-being. Spartan Ventures will focus squarely on the business of athletics, revenue growth and student-athlete opportunities.
Affiliated entities like Spartan Ventures are common at public universities. Foundations, research corporations, real estate holding companies, and multimedia rights partnerships already operate across higher education. More than 50 years ago, the MSU Board established the Michigan State University Research Foundation through a similar affiliation agreement — a successful partner supporting critical research across the institution.
Just as our faculty expect innovation to advance research, our student-athletes, alumni, and fans expect a financially strong and competitive athletics program.
Following initial approval of the affiliation agreement creating the nonprofit, tax-exempt Spartan Ventures, the Board also authorized a strategic brand management agreement, paving the way for Spartan Media Ventures. I appreciate the shared vision and support of the president, alumni, and Board of Trustees in bringing this effort to life.
Spartan Ventures and Spartan Media Ventures expand access to resources, strengthen connections with supporters, and create a competitive advantage that benefits all varsity sports — including Olympic sports — and every student-athlete. With increased fiscal demands, MSU must pursue revenue strategies that do not rely on taxpayer dollars or increase costs for Spartan students and their families. Innovation is simply good business.
Spartan Ventures has announced its board of directors, including seats for the university president, board chair, and athletic director. Executive Deputy Athletics Director Jon Palumbo has been selected by the Spartan Ventures board to serve as CEO.
The future is bright, and the time is right to lead. While we are not the first to modernize in this way, we are at the forefront. Innovation invites scrutiny, but we are confident this is the right path forward.
Give Green Day Recap
I close with a heartfelt thank you.
Last Tuesday, Michigan State Athletics raised a record $4,183,873 during MSU’s 10th Annual Give Green Day. The total eclipsed last year’s record amount by an amazing 298%.
Success in today’s college athletics landscape requires everyone pulling in the same direction. Last week, Spartans demonstrated a shared commitment to excellence.
Go Green!
J Batt
Michigan State University Vice President and Director of Athletics
