Desiree Reed-Francois speaks on her new position as Missouri AD

James Fletcher IIIby:James Fletcher III•08/09/21•

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Missouri athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois released her first statement with her new school. In a press release confirming the hire, Reed-Francois joined President Mun Choi in expressing optimism for the future of Missouri athletics.

“It is a transformational day for Mizzou Athletics,” said Choi. “Desiree-Reed Francois brings an unsurpassed passion for student-athletes and bold, visionary skills that will propel a championship culture at MU.”

Reed-Francois opened her tenure at Missouri with a statement on her plans for future success.

Official statement

“It is truly an honor to join Missouri’s flagship institution, and I am extremely grateful to search committee Chair Layman and members of the search advisory committee for this incredible opportunity,” said Reed-Francois. “The University of Missouri is a world-class academic institution with a strong commitment to athletics, and a resolve to further enhance its athletics programs to achieve elite national status in all of our endeavors. We have a proud and storied tradition; we compete in the premier athletic conference in the country; and, perhaps most importantly, we have a collective desire to be great. My family and I are excited to join the Mizzou Family, and I cannot wait to get started. Go Tigers!”

Track record at UNLV

Reed-Francois brings more than 25 years of experience in athletics and is the first Hispanic female and woman of color athletic director at the FBS level. Here are a couple of facts about her contributions at UNLV, her most recent position.

  • In 2020, season ticket sales increased by 50% from 2018, and football premium revenue jumped nearly 70% in 2020.
  • During her first year, UNLV entered into a 10-year multimedia rights deal with Learfield, a deal which was the largest in the Mountain West Conference from a revenue standpoint.
  • In addition, she improved UNLV’s football facilities, including UNLV opening a $35 million, state-of-the-art Fertitta Football Complex.
  • Also, she helped to negotiate a deal where UNLV football could use the Las Vegas Raiders $2 billion football facility in 2020. Allegiant Stadium is one of the nicest football facilities in the world.

Prior to UNLV, Reed-Francois worked at Virginia Tech, where she was the Deputy AD for Whit Babcock. She also spent some time as a sport administrator at Tennessee when Cuonzo Martin was the head coach in Knoxville.

One of Reed-Francois‘ most important duties when she gets to Missouri will be helping the football program, which went 5-5 in Eli Drinkwitz’s first season.

Image courtesy of Ethan Miller/Getty Images