Tech wrapped up its athletic director (AD) search in less than a month with the hiring of former University of Alabama Executive Deputy AD J Batt. After firing Head Football Coach Geoff Collins and Athletic Director Todd Stansbury on Sept. 26, Batt’s hiring was announced on Oct. 14, with his first day in the new role set for Oct. 24. Batt takes over from Frank Neville, who handled AD duties in an interim role.
Batt handled a range of duties at Alabama, including chief revenue officer and chief operating officer roles for the Tide. He was also the main executive overseeing the men’s basketball team, which has three NCAA Tournament appearances since Batt’s tenure began in 2017 and an SEC title and Sweet 16 appearance in 2021.