Contract extension announced for Mizzou AD Desireé Reed-Francois
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Mizzou board of curators unanimously voted in favor of a one-year contract extension for Director of Athletics Desireé Reed-Francois, which keeps her in Columbia through June 30, 2028.
“In less than two years, Mizzou’s fans are excited and breaking attendance records in many of our sports. It’s amazing to see how her leadership has brought our student-athletes, our fans and our broader university community together," said Michael Williams, chair of the UM Board of Curators, in a release from the university.
Reed-Francois was already the highest paid AD at Mizzou when she was hired in 2021, but this extension increases her salary from $800,000 to $1.25 million. Plus, her base salary increases from $550,000 to $900,000 and her non-salary compensation increases from $250,000 to $350,000.
Some of her accomplishments that are being pointed out by the university include: the construction of the Stephens Indoor Practice Facility for football, the hirings of Dennis Gates as the new Whitten Family Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Dawn Sullivan in Volleyball and Caroline Westrup in women’s golf, dozens of enhancements to the game-day fan experience, the implementation of Black & Gold Fridays across the stat, a retooling of the Tigers’ NIL program and the creation of the 24-stop Come HOME Tour.
“Through her innovation and tireless work, AD Reed-Francois has transformed Mizzou Athletics. She is building a championship culture that we have been seeking,” said Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri.
Since Reed-Francois has taken over, the wrestling program won a pair of conference titles and had back-to-back top 10 placings at the NCAA Championship, the football team earned two bowl bids, men’s basketball posted its highest win total since 2013-14, men’s golf grabbed its first NCAA Regional bid since 2018, gymnastics placed in the top 10 at the 2022 NCAA Championship and softball hosted an NCAA Regional for the second-straight season.
Plus, academically nine sports programs recorded their highest-ever GPAs in the fall semester as Mizzou increased its graduation success rate to 86.
