East Lansing, Mich. — Michigan State University announced Friday that Jon Palumbo will serve as interim athletic director as the university moves forward following the departure of its athletic director, who accepted a new role at the University of Kentucky. The announcement came as MSU also confirmed it had retained President Kevin M. Guskiewicz.
Leadership changes, financial details and campus reaction
The school said it will receive a negotiated buyout of $3.95 million tied to the athletic director’s exit. Campus supporters also helped secure Guskiewicz’s retention by raising funds that allowed a raise of $500,000, placing his annual pay at $1.5 million, and extending his contract by five years.
Palumbo, who will step in as interim athletic director, is currently the CEO of Spartan Ventures, a tax-exempt nonprofit established to provide financial support to MSU’s athletic department. He was hired by the departing athletic director — identified in university materials as the person leaving for Kentucky — about a year ago after they worked together at Georgia Tech.
"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 athletic director," Guskiewicz said.
The move follows earlier concern on campus when longtime leaders in MSU athletics and administration were poised to leave. Basketball Hall of Famer Tom Izzo publicly lamented the loss of the departing athletic director and had urged supporters to take action. The fundraising effort that helped retain Guskiewicz followed that appeal.
- Interim AD: Jon Palumbo, CEO of Spartan Ventures
- President retained: Kevin M. Guskiewicz — raise of $500,000 to $1.5 million per year; contract extended five years
- Buyout: $3.95 million for the departing athletic director
Background and immediate priorities
Palumbo’s recent role with Spartan Ventures places him at the center of fundraising and financial strategy for MSU athletics. As interim athletic director, his responsibilities will include overseeing the department’s programs and preparing for the upcoming season, a priority the university highlighted in its announcement.
The departing athletic director’s new job succeeds longtime Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart, who retired after serving since 2002. The MSU announcement framed the transition as a continuity move intended to keep the department on a steady course.
| Item | Amount / Detail |
|---|---|
| Athletic director buyout | $3.95 million |
| President's raise | $500,000 (new salary $1.5 million) |
| Presidential contract extension | 5 years |
University officials said they expect the transition to be seamless and emphasized preparation for athletic seasons and support for student-athletes. The appointment of an interim athletic director drawn from the organization that supports the athletic department’s finances signals an emphasis on continuity and institutional knowledge during the leadership change.
As the department moves forward under Palumbo’s interim stewardship, campus stakeholders — from donors to coaches and student-athletes — will be watching how quickly the university fills a permanent leadership role and how decisions around budgets, facilities and staffing are managed in the near term.
Additional details and any formal search process for a permanent athletic director are expected to be released by Michigan State in the coming weeks.
