Guskiewicz Stays at MSU
Kevin Guskiewicz Reverses Course, Will Remain MSU President Amid Governance Reforms and Izzo's Support
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Key Points
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Governance reforms progress: MSU’s Board of Trustees is moving to implement a stronger governance structure, including improvements to its code of ethics and conduct, after ongoing governance concerns; Guskiewicz said there have been productive discussions with the board.
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Financial implications of the leadership moves: Because Guskiewicz stayed at MSU, Kentucky will owe the full $5 million buyout for Athletic Director J. Batt; a clause that would have halved the buyout if Guskiewicz had left first is no longer in effect.
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Guskiewicz compensation history and potential changes: He had his salary nearly doubled earlier (to around $2 million base with an extension to 2031; existing MSU terms were roughly $1.029 million base plus $200k) and there were reports of discussions about reducing his pay to about $1.5 million amid trustee turmoil.
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Six-month departure window gave MSU time to persuade him to stay: The six-month departure period allowed MSU to delay a permanent replacement and work to stabilize leadership before any immediate transition.
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Izzo’s reaction and unity push: Coach Tom Izzo publicly expressed strong concern about the potential loss of Guskiewicz, urged unity among Spartans and alumni, and noted that an interim athletic director had not yet been named amid the leadership reshuffle.
Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz will stay in East Lansing, reversing a decision he made in May to become the next president of Clemson University. MSU Today announced the reversal, citing personal reasons for his change of heart after weeks of pressure from coaches, alumni, and the MSU community.
The about-face ends a weeks-long leadership saga that shook MSU's administration. It also carries a steep financial consequence: because Guskiewicz is staying, the University of Kentucky now owes MSU the full $5 million buyout for Athletic Director J. Batt, Yahoo reported.
From Clemson-Bound to Staying Put in East Lansing
Guskiewicz announced in May that he would leave MSU to lead Clemson University in South Carolina. The news blindsided many on campus. MSU used a built-in six-month departure window to buy time. That window gave the university a chance to make its case — and it worked.
WILX reported that campus reacted with relief after Guskiewicz reversed course. He cited personal reasons for staying. He did not elaborate publicly, but sources close to the situation pointed to sustained pressure from faculty, alumni, and key figures in MSU athletics as factors in his decision.
Tom Izzo Led the Push to Keep Guskiewicz
Men's basketball coach Tom Izzo was among the most vocal voices urging Guskiewicz to stay. Izzo publicly called for Spartan unity and warned about the risks of a leadership vacuum. His stature in East Lansing gave the campaign real weight.
Izzo also noted that MSU had not yet named an interim athletic director amid the ongoing reshuffling. That gap added urgency. The combination of a leaderless athletic department and a departing president spooked many in the MSU community, WYBR reported.
Guskiewicz Takes a Pay Cut to Stay at MSU
Guskiewicz's decision to stay comes with a revised salary. Yahoo reported he accepted a $1.5 million annual pay package. That is a reduction from the roughly $2 million base salary he had been earning after MSU nearly doubled his pay and extended his contract to 2031.
Earlier reports indicated MSU trustees had discussed cutting his pay to around $1.5 million amid ongoing governance tensions. His original base salary before the raise was about $1.029 million plus $200,000 in additional compensation. The accepted reduction may reflect a compromise between Guskiewicz and a fractured board.
Kentucky Owes Full $5 Million After Buyout Clause Kicks In
When Athletic Director J. Batt left MSU for Kentucky, his contract included a buyout clause with a key condition. If Guskiewicz had also left MSU, Kentucky would have owed only $2.5 million — half the full amount. Because Guskiewicz is staying, that discount no longer applies.
Kentucky now owes MSU the full $5 million buyout. The governance tensions at MSU that helped drive Guskiewicz toward Clemson also shaped that clause, making the leadership drama a direct financial matter. Meanwhile, MSU Today said the Board of Trustees is moving to strengthen its governance structure, including reforms to its code of ethics and conduct.
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