Missouri formally announces Memphis' Laird Veatch as new athletics director

Missouri officially has its new athletics director. Laird Veatch has been hired to lead the way for the Missouri athletics department, the school announced Tuesday.

It was previously reported that Veatch was Missouri’s target to come over from Memphis to Missouri.

Veatch spent six years at Missouri in a variety of roles from 1997-2002, including as a development coordinator. Now he is back there.

“AD Veatch is a proven leader with the vision we need to achieve our championship goals,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said in a statement. “I want to thank Curator Blitz and the search committee for identifying the right leader to build upon the incredible momentum of Mizzou Athletics. I also want to thank interim director Marcy Girton for her service and commitment to Mizzou Athletics.”

Laird Veatch had served as Memphis’ athletic director since October of 2019, and was elevated to the title of Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics in June of 2021. He previously held the executive associate AD position at Florida from 2017 until his departure to Memphis in 2019.

“The opportunity to return to the University of Missouri and to Columbia is truly incredible for me and my family,” Veatch said in a statement. “I am grateful to President Choi, the Board of Curators and the members of the search committee for believing in me and in the future of Mizzou Athletics.

“Mizzou has always had a passionate and dedicated fan base including broad support throughout the state, and together, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish. That includes winning SEC and NCAA championships while providing our student-athletes with a tremendous experience. I am honored and humbled to serve the university and to do my part to elevate Mizzou Athletics to unprecedented heights.”

Veatch is the man behind Memphis’ #MemphisAscend, which helped bring a Student-Athlete Success Center, a Student Housing development and several other upgrades and projects to the Tigers’ campus during his tenure. He also partnered with the City of Memphis to help undergo a $200 million renovation to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for the Memphis Tiger football team.

During his time at Memphis, Veatch understood the importance of name, image and likeness to collegiate athletes. Under his guide, Memphis became one of the first 10 schools in the country to hire a Director of Name, Image and Likeness to help student-athletes maximize their NIL.

Prior to Florida, Veatch spent seven years from 2010 until 2017 at his alma mater, Kansas State University, where served in several roles, including deputy athletics director and interim director of athletics.