Reports: Mizzou finalizing hiring of Memphis’ Laird Veatch as new Athletic Director
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
After two months of waiting, the Mizzou Athletic Director search may be coming to an end.
On Monday, college athletics insider Pete Thamel reported that Mizzou is closing in on hiring Memphis Athletic Director Laird Veatch, after he spent about four years at the helm of Blue Tiger athletics.
If the report holds true, he would leave Memphis just days after securing a monumental $25 million Name, Image and Likeness deal with FedEx.
Veatch would bring more than 25 years of experience in college athletics, specifically in the Big 12 and the SEC, to Columbia. However, he is no stranger to MU. Starting in 1997, he worked his way up through the ranks and ended up leading the department's fundraising division.
In his years with the Tigers, he oversaw fundraising activities for the department with a special emphasis on facility and capital fundraising projects. He managed the Tiger Scholarship Fund's annual giving program and directed Mizzou's $102 million comprehensive Capital Campaign.
Before starting his career, Veatch was a four-year letterman under hall of fame head coach Bill Snyder at Kansas State from 1990-94, serving as a team captain in his senior season.
After his playing days came to an end, he got his first professional start with the University of Texas, where he was a graduate assistant for external operations and the longhorn foundation for a couple years in the late '90s.
The move to Columbia came after his years in Austin, however, after his time working directly with Mizzou Athletics came to an end, he worked for Learfield Sports for seven years.
He did end up returning to his alma mater in 2010 as the associate athletics Director for Capital Support. Veatch worked his way up to the Deputy Athletics Director and Chief of Staff role by 2016. He oversaw the K-State athletic department's senior staff on strategic direction, fundraising, fan experience, ticket sales, as well as multimedia rights.
Veatch was also the lead manager of capital projects. He oversaw construction and fundraising for more than $210 million in new facilities for the Wildcats. That work was all highlighted by an $85 million football stadium expansion and a $65 million football training facility.
You can find a full list of Veatch's professional expereince in the list below.
- October 2019-present: University of Memphis (Director of Athletics)
- July 2017-19: University of Florida (Executive Associate Athletics Director, Internal Affairs)
- 2016-17: Kansas State University (Deputy Athletics Director & Chief of Staff)
- 2015-16: Kansas State University (Deputy Athletics Director)
- 2013-15: Kansas State University (Executive Associate Athletics Director)
- 2012-13: Kansas State University (Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Initiatives)
- 2010-12: Kansas State University (Associate Athletics Director for Capital Support)
- 2006-10: Learfield Sports, Heartland Division (Regional Vice President)
- 2003-06: Learfield Sports, Mizzou Sports Properties (General Manager)
- 2002-03: Iowa State University (Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations)
- 2000-02: University of Missouri (Assistant Athletics Director for Development)
- 1998-2000: University of Missouri (Director of Athletics Development for Major Giving)
- 1997-98: University of Missouri (Director of Annual Giving & Development Coordinator)
- 1995-97: University of Texas (Graduate Assistant for External Operations & the Longhorn Foundation)
Veatch has worked closely with Mizzou's athletic department in recent history, as well. During the 2023 football season, he secured $1 million from MU to move the two teams' scheduled football game from Memphis to the Dome at America's Center in downtown St. Louis.
The reported decision from the university leadership brings an end to two months worth of question for Mizzou Athletics, after the departure of ex-AD Desiree Reed-Francois to Arizona.
