MSU Hires New Athletic Director
Michigan State to Hire Western Michigan's Dan Bartholomae as New Athletic Director
Key Points
Bartholomae oversaw WMU’s 37 conference championships across programs, culminating in a national championship in men’s hockey.
He played a lead role in WMU’s downtown Kalamazoo event center project, which is opening in Fall 2027 and will host basketball, hockey and other events.
Bartholomae inherits WMU’s notable athletic philanthropy, including the $401 million athletic donation from Greg and Dawn Williams of Acrisure.
Bartholomae’s deal at WMU reportedly included a six-year extension with a base of at least $750,000 annually and a first-year buyout of about $5.1 million.
During the 2025-26 season, Bartholomae helped WMU raise a school-record $21.8 million in gifts and earned recognition as a finalist for the Sports Business Journal’s 2026 Athletic Director of the Year.
Michigan State University is finalizing a deal to hire Western Michigan Athletic Director Dan Bartholomae as its next AD, according to WWMT and multiple reports. Bartholomae, who has led WMU's athletics program for four years, will replace interim AD Jon Palumbo, who stepped in after J Batt left for Kentucky in July.
The move is seen as a major win for MSU. Spartan Avenue called it "an absolute home run hire," pointing to Bartholomae's fundraising record and his track record of building programs at WMU.
WMU's Winningest Era Ends With a Big Move
Bartholomae spent four years at Western Michigan and transformed the program. Under his watch, WMU won 37 conference championships across its sports programs. The biggest came in men's hockey, where the Broncos claimed a national title, according to 1075 The Game.
He also oversaw a new downtown Kalamazoo event center, set to open in Fall 2027. The arena will host basketball, hockey, and other events. It stands as one of the most ambitious facility projects in WMU's history.
Record Fundraising Made Bartholomae a Top Target
Bartholomae's biggest selling point is his ability to raise money. In the 2025-26 school year, he helped WMU pull in a school-record $21.8 million in gifts, according to Miami Herald. That performance earned him a spot as a finalist for Sports Business Journal's 2026 Athletic Director of the Year.
He also played a key role in landing a $401 million pledge from Greg and Dawn Williams of Acrisure — one of the largest athletic donations in college sports history. That track record signals MSU could pursue major donor campaigns and capital projects under his leadership.
Buyout Numbers Show How Much MSU Wants Him
Getting Bartholomae out of WMU won't come cheap. His contract included a first-year buyout of about $5.1 million, per Saturday Down South. MSU plans to offset roughly $3.95 million of that cost using money from Kentucky's buyout of J Batt.
Bartholomae's WMU deal also included a six-year extension with a base salary of at least $750,000 per year. WMU has not yet named a replacement. The program faces a real transition risk, especially after its run of success.
MSU Fills a Hole After a Year of Instability
MSU's AD chair has been unstable. J Batt served only one year before leaving for Kentucky. Jon Palumbo was named interim AD on July 10, a move that signaled MSU was in transition mode, according to Spartan Avenue.
Bartholomae also has experience beyond WMU. He held roles at Oregon State and Pittsburgh before taking the WMU job. That mix of mid-major and Power Five experience makes him a fit for MSU, which needs strong leadership heading into a competitive era of college athletics.
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