(LISTEN): New Mizzou athletic director Veatch says football is key to keeping Mizzou competitive in SEC

Mizzou’s new athletic director will deliver a presentation to the UM Board of Curators in Springfield this (Thursday) afternoon about his first 60 days in the position.

Mizzou athletic director Laird Veatch began his new job in Columbia on May 1, describing his hiring as a dream come true. Mr. Veatch talks about the importance of making Mizzou competitive with other Southeastern Conference schools:

“For us to, as an athletic department, have the type of success across-the-board that we all desire, we’re going to have football be successful at a high level over a sustained period of time in a lot of ways so that we can afford to continue to invest in all of our programs,” Mr. Veatch says.

Audio is courtesy of Zimmer Radio’s Tom Ladd in Springfield. Mr. Veatch says it has to start with a special coach, adding they believe they have that with Tiger football coach Eliah Drinkwitz. Mr. Veatch is also excited about the $250-million plan approved by the UM Board of Curators in April to improve Mizzou’s Memorial Stadium.

Mr. Veatch says his job is ultimately a relationship position:

“And one that you have to, you know you have to be out, you have to be visible. You have to be a point of connection for people that can help support and invest in what you’re doing. And I think that is a hugely important part of the role, increasingly so,” says Veatch.

Mr. Veatch says it’s a management and leadership position as well.