Michigan State University announced Monday that it plans to hire Western Michigan University Athletic Director Dan Bartholomae to lead the Spartans’ athletics department.
Bartholomae called the hire a “tremendous honor,” adding in a press release that he’s excited to get to work.
“Michigan State Athletics has everything required to thrive in this new era of college sports: top-level student athletes, outstanding coaches, a global alumni network and a university leadership team committed to excellence,” Bartholomae said. “Throughout my career, I have been drawn to institutions that believe athletics can elevate a university and unite a community. That is certainly true at Michigan State.”
Bartholomae’s first day will be Monday, Aug. 31. The MSU Board of Trustees will formally approve Bartholomae’s contract at its upcoming Sept. 11 meeting.
Details of his salary were not immediately disclosed, but buying out his contract with WMU could come with a price tag of as much as $5.1 million, The Detroit News reported.
That’s partially offset by a $3.95 million buyout MSU will receive from Kentucky, who hired outgoing Athletic Director J Batt in June after President Kevin Guskiewicz was announced as the next president of Clemson. Guskiewicz later reversed course, opting to stay in East Lansing.
Guskiewicz said in a press release Wednesday that the future of college athletics will “belong to institutions that embrace innovation while remaining grounded in their mission.”
“At Michigan State, that mission is clear: to provide our student-athletes with an experience that prepares them to compete at the highest levels, earn a world-class education and become leaders who make a difference long after their playing days are over,” Guskiewicz said.
Guskiewicz led the process to hire Bartholomae, ESPN reported.
During the last academic year, WMU raised a record $21.8 million for athletics under Bartholomae’s leadership. Since he joined the Broncos in 2022, fundraising for athletics increased by more than 473%.
He also oversaw a $153 million dollar stadium renovation at Oregon State University.
Head football coach Pat Fitzgerald said during a press conference Monday that he hopes to have a relationship built on honesty and transparency.
“It’s my job to help that person be better, whatever that means. However they need me is what I’m going to do,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s just like my assistant coaches to me. We have very honest, transparent conversations, and they’re there to help me be the best head coach I can be. I’m here to take things off the AD’s plate and make him be ... the best AD possible.”
Bartholomae joins the Spartans after the WMU men’s ice hockey team won its first-ever Division 1 NCAA National Championship, the first national championship for WMU in six decades.
He also oversaw athletics during the Broncos’ first-ever NCAA tournament win, first-ever Penrose Cup Championship and first-ever NCHC Tournament Championship.
They also set a new academic year mark of a 3.42 GPA in 2025-26, with all programs above a 3.0 GPA.
A press conference introducing Bartholomae as the Spartans’ next athletic director is scheduled for Wednesday.
The MSU Board of Trustees will vote on his contract next month.
