There's a lot to like about Laird Veatch.
That's why the Memphis athletics director since October 2019 was an early and obvious entry on any decent list of names to know for Mizzou's AD search, including ours. Now that Veatch is going to become Mizzou's AD, some might turn the lack of a surprise factor into a reason to feel underwhelmed. I'd advise against that reaction.
If you had jotted down a list of experiences, qualities and accomplishments you wanted Mizzou’s next AD to have after Desiree Reed-Francois made a surprise departure to Arizona, the former Kansas State linebacker and team captain under coach Bill Snyder should check many of your boxes.