COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Department of Athletics has reorganized its leadership structure, including the addition of several administrative hires and internal promotions across the department’s Senior Leadership Team, Director of Athletics Laird Veatch announced Friday.
“I’m truly excited about the team of professionals we’re bringing into Mizzou Athletics to complement and build on the excellent core we have in place,” said Veatch, who began as athletics director on May 1. “Our leadership reorganization will promote alignment, efficiency and coordination across related department units and further empower the members of our Senior Leadership Team to guide their staffs and streamline our communication and decision-making.”
Veatch has hired five new administrators who will join Mizzou Athletics in the coming weeks:
• Executive Athletics Director-Chief Financial Officer Andrew Roberts most recently served as the Executive Director for Financial Planning and Budget for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. He previously worked with Veatch at the University of Memphis as the athletics department's Senior Associate A.D.-Chief Financial Officer from 2020-24. He also spent nearly five years at the University of Arkansas in multiple athletics department roles with previous stops at the University of Miami and the University of Mississippi. Roberts will oversee Mizzou's business office, along with analytics, equipment and information technology.
• Executive Athletics Director-Chief Infrastructure Officer Joe Swingle returns to Mizzou, where he served as assistant director of game operations from 2000-2002. Swingle, a Carthage, Missouri, native, has spent the last 12 years at the University of Mississippi, most recently serving as Senior Associate A.D.-Facilities and Capital Projects. Prior to his time at Ole Miss, Swingle held similar positions at Arkansas and Iowa State University. Swingle will oversee Mizzou's facilities and turf management.
• Senior Associate Athletic Director-Chief of Public Relations Michael Schroeder reunites with Veatch after working alongside him the last three-plus years at Memphis, where he served as Associate A.D.-Integrated Communications and Marketing. Schroeder previously held communications positions in minor-league baseball with the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and Memphis Redbirds following seven years at Western Kentucky University. At Mizzou, Schroeder will oversee marketing, ticket sales and ticket operations, broadcast, sports tech and creative services.
• Assistant Athletics Director-Marketing Josh Moore also comes from Memphis, where he served as Assistant A.D.- Marketing and Game Presentation. He previously held marketing positions at University of Cincinnati and Wake Forest University.
• Assistant Athletics Director-People and CultureEmily Hagans worked with Veatch at Memphis as Director of Athletic Stewardship and Engagement. She previously held an administrative position at University of Florida.
As part of Mizzou's leadership restructure, Veatch has promoted current administrators to the following positions:
• Marcy Girton, Deputy Athletics Director-Chief Operating Officer-Senior Woman Administrator
• Will Kava, Executive Athletics Director-Chief of Student Athlete Services
• Blair DeBord, Executive Athletics Director-Chief Resources Officer
• Nick Grunenwald, Senior Associate Athletics Director-Chief of Staff
• Dave Matter, Associate Athletics Director-Strategic Communications
Mizzou Athletics will begin the process soon to hire two more Senior Leadership positions for Deputy Athletics Director-Chief of External Relations and Senior Associate Athletics Director-Development.
