AD Laird Veatch talks about transition to Missouri Athletic Director

With football season right around the corner and Missouri athletics on the rise, new Athletic Director (AD) Laird Veatch discussed his transition back to Columbia. In a sit-down interview with Mike Kelly, he touched on topics such as NIL funding, the evolving landscape of college athletics, and much more.

Veatch was named the AD of Missouri Athletics on April 25th, so he has now been in the role for about four months. During that time, a lot has transpired—not necessarily in terms of games being played, but there has already been a noticeable shift in the athletic programs under his leadership.

The biggest project thus far being the South end zone renovations at Memorial Stadium, a project that is set to to be completed by the 2026 football season.

In reference to the ongoing renovations at Memorial Stadium, Veatch made a strong statement: "This project represents our commitment to competing at the highest level in the SEC and significantly enhancing the game-day experience for our fans. While we are moving forward with tremendous momentum and remain on target to break ground at the end of the calendar year, we need to double down on our fundraising efforts, and we'll need your support along the way."

Veatch’s emphasis on fundraising efforts is crucial, as resources are everything in maintaining success in today’s landscape of college athletics. It's encouraging to see that Veatch understands this reality, as it’s essential for staying competitive in this "new-look" era of college sports.

Recognizing the momentum that Missouri has with its football program is also crucial, and it’s reassuring that Veatch addressed it. He discussed how to maintain this momentum and ways to leverage it to build for the future, ensuring that the program continues to grow and thrive in the years to come.

"The level of enthusiasm surrounding Mizzou Athletics is simply incredible. That momentum, combined with the investments we are making and the extreme changes we're navigating in college athletics, present a unique opportunity for us to climb to competitive levels we have never achieved before.  We are building something special here at Mizzou and your support is critical as we embark on future opportunities together."

Veatch clearly has a strong understanding of the current state of Missouri athletics, and if he stays on course, he’s poised to continue shining in this new role.