Dan Bartholomae Takes the Helm at Michigan State Athletics
Michigan State University announced this week that Dan Bartholomae will assume the role of athletic director, taking over from J Batt, who left Western Michigan after a single year to join Kentucky.
Bartholomae’s journey to East Lansing began long before this appointment; after 15 years at the University of Pittsburgh, where he climbed to executive deputy athletic director, he spent five years at Oregon State before making the move to Western Michigan.
At Western Michigan, his stewardship produced a 2025 national championship in men’s ice hockey and a program that captured 37 conference titles across a variety of sports, cementing his reputation as a builder of winning teams.
Under his direction, the department’s external revenue generation surged by 105 percent, and he spearheaded a $515 million downtown Kalamazoo arena project that was financed entirely through private sources, creating a modern facility that has become a model for collegiate venues.
The new arena, now a centerpiece of the Kalamazoo campus, reflects Bartholomae’s commitment to blending competitive athletics with substantial facility investment, a strategy that has resonated with donors and alumni alike.
His prior experience at two major research institutions equips him with a nuanced understanding of compliance, fundraising, and the day‑to‑day demands of a Power Five athletic department.
What This Means for Michigan State
The Spartans’ athletic community is poised for a period of transition, as Bartholomae brings a proven track record of championship culture and fiscal growth. Stakeholders hope his expertise will translate into sustained success on the fields, courts and rinks that define Michigan State’s storied sports heritage.