Michigan State finalizing deal to hire Bartholomae as AD

Michigan State is finalizing a deal to hire Dan Bartholomae, the athletic director at Western Michigan, as its new athletic director.

Bartholomae has run Western Michigan's athletic department since Jan. 1, 2022, after five years as executive deputy athletic director at Oregon State. During his tenure at Western Michigan, the school won a men's hockey national title in 2025, its first, and the football team won a MAC title in 2025 under coach Lance Taylor, whom Bartholomae hired. Western Michigan raised a record $21.8 million in fundraising in 2025-26.

Bartholomae, 46, replaces J Batt, who left Michigan State after nearly a year to become athletic director at Kentucky. The hiring comes as new football coach Pat Fitzgerald prepares for his first season at Michigan State and basketball coach Tom Izzo enters his 31st season there.