COLUMBIA, Mo. — In a nationwide search for the next leader of Missouri’s athletics department, school officials looked west.
Nevada-Las Vegas’ Desiree Reed-Francois, 49, was named the school’s AD on Sunday, becoming the first woman to hold that position in the school’s history. A high-ranking university official confirmed the hiring to the Post-Dispatch earlier in the day after campus leaders had completed multiple in-person interviews in St. Louis.
The UM System Board of Curators will meet Tuesday to formally approve Reed-Francois’ contract. She’s expected to hold her introductory news conference this week.
“This is a transformational day for Mizzou Athletics,” university president Mun Choi said in a news release.