Veatch says Mizzou will be his ‘forever home’ after short stints by previous athletic directors

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Laird Veatch and his entire family were feted by the Tiger faithful Friday, as the University of Missouri introduced its newest athletic director.

Veatch, who will start May 1 as Mizzou's 22nd athletic director, was introduced to the Mizzou community with a news conference at the Stephens indoor football training facility Friday afternoon.

University of Missouri System President Mun Choi is eager for the new athletic director to lead fundraising for a quarter-billion-dollar Memorial Stadium improvement project.

Choi presented Veach with a Mizzou Tigers football jersey with the number 22 on it.

"We want you here for 22 years," Choi said.

Veatch, who spent five years with Mizzou Athletics ending in 2002, thanked those assembled for "making my dream come true."

"This is an incredibly special full-circle life moment for my family and I," Veatch said. Three of his four children were born in Columbia, he said.

Veatch comes to Columbia from the University of Memphis, where he has been athletic director for five years. He brings more than 25 years of experience in college athletics to the job, which spans all the way from the Big 12 to the SEC. He's made stops at his alma mater Kansas State, Iowa State, Texas, Florida and Mizzou.

Veatch was also the general manager of Mizzou Sports Properties from 2003-06. After that, he served as the regional vice president for Learfield Sports in Missouri from 2006-10.

Veatch called his hiring "God's hand" in his life and said his family had been ready for "our forever home."

"So to be clear, there is no transfer portal for the Veatch family," he said to chuckles. "We are committed."

Veatch will take over for Desiree Reed-Francois, who left this year for Arizona. The school has had three athletic directors since 2015.

Check back for updates to this developing story.