“As first reported today by Pete Thamel of ESPN, Georgia Tech has hired Ryan Alpert—formerly the Deputy Athletic Director at Tennessee—as its new Vice President and Director of Athletics. A top target for the position, Alpert succeeds J Batt, who, along with recent interim AD Jon Palumbo, was hired by Michigan State to fill the same roles they previously held at Georgia Tech.”
Georgia Tech Hires Ryan Alpert as New Athletic Director
“Today’s announcement is a reflection of Georgia Tech’s commitment to elevating the competitive profile of our athletic programs on par with our academic profile,” said President Ángel Cabrera in a press release announcing the hire of Ryan Alpert as the Institute’s new Vice President and Director of Athletics.
Initially reported by Pete Thamel of ESPN, Alpert’s contract will span five years.
Alpert joins Georgia Tech after serving as Deputy Athletic Director at Tennessee, where he played a major role in dramatically increasing athletic revenue—boosting it by more than $100 million since 2022, according to Georgia Tech’s release. His track record includes development and fundraising roles at Missouri, Florida Atlantic, and Memphis, all of which prepared him for this next step.
His arrival signals a continuation of the financial momentum started by J Batt, now at Michigan State. Alpert was considered one of the top up-and-coming candidates ready to take on an AD role, and Georgia Tech appears to be giving him a strong platform to build upon the fundraising and program-building progress of the last few years.
What’s Next for Tech?
One immediate area of interest: scheduling. Georgia Tech recently replaced a 2026 matchup with Georgia State—aka the “MARTA Bowl”—with a higher-profile game against Tennessee. Tech has hinted that more non-conference scheduling news is on the way. However, with Batt now in East Lansing, it remains to be seen whether those plans remain a priority as the Jackets fill out their 2028 and beyond schedules.
Looking further ahead, Alpert becomes a critical figure as we approach what many consider the next major inflection point in college athletics: 2030. That’s when key TV deals are up for renewal, conference landscapes could shift again, and buyouts for realignment might become more feasible. Alpert’s leadership will be central to ensuring Tech isn’t left behind in whatever form college sports takes next.
Oh, and one fun twist: Tech Volleyball will host Tennessee in 2025 as part of the new ACC/SEC Challenge—a timely coincidence.
Alpert’s introductory press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, at McCamish Pavilion.
How do you feel about the hire? Let us know—we’ll be recording our next episode of Scions of the Southland in the coming days to dive deeper into Alpert, his fit, and what it means for the future of Georgia Tech athletics.
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