Mizzou AD Desiree Reed-Francois leaving MU; moving to Arizona
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The search for a new Mizzou Athletic Director begins now.
Former AD Desiree Reed-Francois will be leaving Columbia for the same job at the University of Arizona, the school announced on Monday. The move comes about two and a half years after she was first hired, in Aug. of 2021.
In her short time at the helm of MU Athletics, she inspired quite a bit of change, including the construction of the Stephens Indoor Practice Facility for football, the hirings of men's basketball coach Dennis Gates, volleyball coach Dawn Sullivan and baseball coach Kerrick Jackson. She also spearheaded a plan for more improvements to Faurot Field, as a project to improve the north end zone is on the horizon.
During her tenure, Mizzou has seen a two-time national champion in wrestler Keegan O'Toole. The Mizzou volleyball team made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in years, with Reed-Francois' hire winning SEC Coach of the Year. The football team also earned three bowls bids, including a New Year's Six berth in 2023, where head coach Eli Drinkwitz and company toppled Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
Financially, she's found success, as well. Reed-Francois has overseen the department's first budget surplus in six years, while also securing the largest gift in Mizzou Athletics history of $62 million.
It's important to note that, Reed-Francois' move also came just 11 days after the UM Board of Curators created an oversight committee for the athletic department. The committee was tasked with monitoring all the department happenings and any changes that may come for transparency.
Following the University of Arizona's announcement, Reed-Francois released a statement addressed to Mizzou fans, on Monday. You can read the full statement below.
Reed-Francois signed on to a five-year deal with the Wildcats, which will include an annual base salary of $1 million in year one and will move up to $1.2 million in year five, with an additional $250,000 annual contribution from the University of Arizona Foundation.
"There are very few institutions that would entice me to leave an SEC athletics department with strong momentum," said Reed-Francois in a press releases, on Monday. "The University of Arizona has tremendous potential and is an institution — and an athletics program — on the rise, and I want to be a part of shaping that future. We will provide a world-class student-athlete experience, which includes competing for championships and being among the nation's elite. I am grateful to President Robbins and the Arizona Board of Regents for this incredible opportunity."
She came to Mizzou from UNLV, where she served as the Athletic Director for four years. During her time in Las Vegas, she completed more than $70 million in facility upgrades, hired seven new head coaches, including three who earned conference coach of the year honors.
Before working with the Rebels, she made stops at Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Tennessee, California State University-Fresno, Santa Clara University , San Jose State University, the University of California Berkley and the University of San Fransisco.
University of Arizona President Robert Robins said they are ecstatic to have some of Reed-Francois' caliber come to campus.
"Respected nationally for her commitment to student-athletes, Desireé has a history of success everywhere she's served and is exactly the right person we need to modernize our athletics operations and usher in an ongoing culture of success in all aspects of Athletics. This is a tremendous win for our university and I cannot wait for her to get started," he said.
Reed-Francois will be officially introduced in Arizona on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Meanwhile, Mizzou will begin the search for a new athletic director.
