Missouri athletic director leaves for alma mater Arizona
Missouri athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois is leaving the school for the University of Arizona, the school announced Monday afternoon.
ESPN's Pete Thamel originally reported late Monday morning that Reed-Francois could be leaving and The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach first reported her official hiring.
"My heart is filled with gratitude and nostalgia, reflecting on the incredible journey we've shared together at Missouri, as I embark on the next step in my journey," Reed-Francois said in a news release. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to our community and supporters for your unwavering support of the Tigers and the incredible 500 student-athletes here at Mizzou. Your passion for our teams, your boundless energy in the stands, and your unwavering dedication have been the driving force behind our successes. Your presence at games, your support, and your spirit have truly made out athletics program something special."
On its website, Arizona announced that, pending approval by the school's Board of Regents, Reed-Francois will get a five-year contract at Arizona, where she received her law degree. Her deal at Arizona, as reported by The Athletic, starts with an annual base salary of $1 million, with an additional $250,000 contribution from the university's foundation and other opportunities for incentives based on the Wildcats' success in athletics and academics.
The contract has a base salary elevator to $1.2 million in the fifth year. Reed-Francois is scheduled to begin with Arizona on March 3.
"Leaving behind such an amazing fan base is not easy, but as I embark on this new chapter back to my alma mater, I carry with me cherished memories of our time together," Reed-Francois said. "Thank you once again for your unwavering support, your passion, and your dedication. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your Director of Athletics."
At Missouri, Reed-Francois received a contract extension in April 2023, which paid her a total of $1.25 million annually in base salary ($900,000) and non-salary compensation ($350,000).
Reed-Francois was hired as Missouri's AD in August 2021 after spending four years at UNLV. She oversaw the hire of current Missouri basketball coach Dennis Gates and the extension of football coach Eli Drinkwitz.
"I want to say thanks to Desireé Reed-Francois for the opportunity. I want to thank her for her great leadership during this time," Gates said at his Monday press conference.
In all, she hired six head coaches for Missouri athletics in her 2 1/2 years in charge, and she exits after a strong last few months for Missouri as an athletic department.
"She has been very supportive to us," Gates said. "During our road trip she was present at Ole Miss. So I look at AD's who are supportive and AD's who are not and we had one that was very supportive."
A significant upgrade to Memorial Stadium has a consultant, and the department received a record $62 million donation earlier this month.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois leaves for Arizona
