MSU Athletic Director Agrees to Adhere to Oversight Group for Name, Image, and Likeness Matters
In a groundbreaking development, Michigan State's freshly minted athletic director, J Batt, has agreed to collaborate with the College Sports Commission (CSC) in any upcoming investigations, as revealed in the terms of his $12.6 million deal.
The CSC, a new overseer of college sports, takes center stage in Batt's agreement. This for-profit body, officially unveiled days prior, will now be the primary regulating force for student-athletes' Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments.
Following Judge Claudia Wilken's approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, an increased burden of responsibility may fall on all involved parties, as Batt expressed in a heartfelt open letter. These demands could potentially push for more hard work, extended efforts, and additional contributions.
Batt's contract, inked on Thursday and made public following a Freedom of Information request, additionally calls for compliance with any third-party enforcement entities used by the CSC.
Prior to his stint at Michigan State, Batt served as the athletic director of Georgia Tech since 2022. His move was facilitated by Michigan State paying off his $2,002,380.95 liquidated damages obligation to Georgia Tech for ending the employment agreement prematurely.
Batt will receive an initial yearly salary of $1.85 million, with annual increases of $100,000, reaching $1.95 million by 2031. Performance bonuses, judged by the university's president, are also possible, although the specifics remain unclear.
Should Batt terminate the agreement beforehand, a buyout payment is due, with the amount varying according to the time of departure. If the break comes within the initial two years, $5 million is owed; in the third year, $4 million; in the fourth year, $3 million; and $2 million in the fifth year. Conversely, Michigan State is liable for 75% of Batt's remaining base salary if they opt to terminate the agreement without cause.
Amidst a wave of scandals, Batt steps into the role vacated by Alan Haller, tasked with rehabilitating a Big Ten athletic department recovering from various debacles, such as the $500 million settlement with Larry Nassar's sexual abuse victims and the firing of head football coach Mel Tucker, who faced allegations of sexual harassment from Brenda Tracy, a department-hired sexual violence prevention educator.
The university's budget for the 2023-24 season ranked sixth among the Big Ten's public universities, as per Sportico's college sports finances database.
Extra Insights:
- Role of the College Sports Commission (CSC): The CSC is responsible for enforcing NIL rules, operating an NIL clearinghouse, managing revenue-sharing caps, and enforcing roster limits, to ensure compliant college sports under the new settlement terms.
- Revenue-Sharing Management: Initial revenue-sharing caps are set at $20.5 million per school, monitored by the CSC.
- Vetting of NIL Deals: The CSC evaluates NIL deals over $600 to ensure fair-market value and to prevent "pay-for-play" arrangements.
- NIL Clearinghouse: The CSC uses Deloitte's software, NIL Go, to support the evaluation process for NIL deals.
The College Sports Commission (CSC), tasked with regulating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments, will now be the primary analyzing force for student-athletes' NIL deals under the new oversight. As the CSC evaluates NIL deals over $600, it seeks to ensure fair-market value and prevent any "pay-for-play" arrangements, fostering a healthy education-and-self-development and sports environment for student-athletes.
