Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., today announced Jon Palumbo as the university’s interim director of intercollegiate athletics.
“Jon has been an integral part of the innovation of MSU Athletics over the past year, and I have every confidence in his ability to maintain its positive trajectory as interim athletics director,” said Guskiewicz. “This will be a seamless transition for MSU Athletics, and we look forward to a successful start of the upcoming season for our programs and student-athletes.”
Palumbo’s appointment is effective immediately with the announcement of J Batt’s impending departure from the university.
“This is an exciting time for MSU Athletics, and I am happy to share this news with the Spartan community,” said Guskiewicz. “Over the coming weeks and months, I look forward to evaluating options, both internal and external, for a candidate to permanently fill the AD position.”
Palumbo currently serves as MSU’s executive deputy athletics director and chief operating officer and holds the additional role of CEO of Spartan Ventures. Palumbo will continue in his role with Spartan Ventures and designate an appointee to fill the board position held by the athletics director for the duration of his time as interim.
“I’m honored to serve the university in this interim role, and I am grateful to President Guskiewicz for placing his trust and belief in me,” said Palumbo. “I look forward to working with our student-athletes, coaches and staff to build on the positive momentum we have established and continue to move MSU Athletics forward.”
Palumbo came to Michigan State University in July 2025. Among his many responsibilities at the university, Palumbo serves as the primary sport administrator for football, while providing leadership throughout the department, overseeing several units, including finance and budget, event operations, facilities, capital projects, strategic initiatives and equipment. Following the 2025 football season, he assisted in the hiring of Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Prior to his arrival in East Lansing, Palumbo was at Georgia Tech, where he worked closely with J Batt to elevate Georgia Tech Athletics through the implementation of several strategic initiatives and key coaching hires. He joined the department in November of 2022 as executive deputy athletics director and chief operating officer. When Batt’s hiring was announced at Michigan State in June 2025, Palumbo was appointed vice president and interim director of athletics at Georgia Tech.
At Georgia Tech, Palumbo oversaw all internal operations as well as the Yellow Jackets football program. He played an integral role in the recent ascension of the Tech football program, including earning back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time in a decade in 2023 and 2024. Palumbo also led the planning and execution for major capital projects, including the Thomas A. Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center – a 100,000-square-foot facility slated to house leading-edge resources in training, nutrition, sports medicine, sports science and analytics.
Additionally, Palumbo oversaw event operations and fan engagement strategies, including the successful launch of the Helluva Block Party, creating a signature gameday tradition for Georgia Tech football.
Prior to his arrival in Atlanta, Palumbo held the position of director of athletics at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He led the school to unprecedented success during his four years as athletic director between 2018 and 2022, including perhaps the most successful year in school history in 2021-22, which included a school-record seven Southland Conference championships, claiming the Southland Conference’s women’s all-sports championship for the first time in school history and earning the Southland Conference’s Academic Performance Award for the first time in school history. Palumbo hired Steve Lutz as the Islanders’ head men’s basketball coach in 2021 and saw him lead the program to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 15 years in Lutz’s first season at the helm in 2022, followed by a return trip in 2023 and the Islanders’ first-ever NCAA tournament win.
Previously, Palumbo served as deputy athletics director at Virginia Commonwealth University, or VCU, from 2012 through 2018, where he supervised the day-to-day operations of the athletics department and served as the administrator of the Rams’ flagship men’s basketball program. VCU made five straight NCAA tournament appearances between 2013 and 2017 and sold out every home game during Palumbo’s six-years in Richmond.
Palumbo’s professional experience also includes stints at the University of Maryland, American University, the College of William & Mary and La Salle University.
Palumbo played baseball at La Salle, where he was named a team captain and a member of the Athletics Relations Council. He graduated with honors in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in communication and earned an MBA from La Salle in 2003.
