Rhoades Wants Missouri AD Post To Be His Last Job, Calls School A "Destination"

New Missouri AD Mack Rhoades "appeared relaxed Tuesday as he led his first 'M-I-Z, Z-O-U' chant before beginning his remarks to a crowd of several hundred supporters" who gathered for his "first public appearance as the Tigers’ top athletics administrator," according to Tod Palmer of the K.C. STAR. Rhoades said that he "plans on Mizzou being his last job." Rhoades: "This place is special. ... This is a destination place." Rhoades said that he had "put some thought" into Deputy AD Doug Gillin's replacement. But he added, "I'm not going to share that right now." He said Univ. of Houston Associate VP & COO Hunter Yurachek would make "a great candidate." But he added that he "hopes Yurachek succeeds him" at UH. Rhoades "also acknowledged that he was inheriting a strong situation thanks to the work" of outgoing MU AD Mike Alden. Rhoades: "This is not a fixer-upper." Palmer notes Rhoades will "take his time to get the lay of the land before developing a list of priorities" (K.C. STAR, 3/11).

YES MAN: Rhoades said, "My challenge here is going to be to come in and really not want to touch everything. I’m used to coming in, touching everything and saying, 'We’re going to do this, this, this and this.'" He added, "I kind of operate from a premise of yes. You need something? Yes, we’re going to try to get that done. Come to me. It needs to be well thought-out. How is it going to move the needle? Is it going to be a great return on investment?" MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin said that he "doesn't want to meddle too much in the affairs of the athletic department." In Missouri, David Morrison notes neither Loftin nor Rhoades "would discuss the terms" of Rhoades' deal. Loftin said that there "isn't a finalized contract yet, just terms." Loftin added that he and search firm Korn/Ferry Int'l "started with 'dozens' of candidates and whittled them down" but "declined to say how many he interviewed." MU Exec Associate AD Tim Hickman said Rhoades was "excited there was a bathroom as part of his office, with a shower, because he likes to run a lot of times" (COLUMBIA DAILY TRIBUNE, 3/11). In St. Louis, Dave Matter notes Rhoades’ first day on the job "began at Mizzou Arena, where he met with MU’s head coaches and the athletics department’s senior staff." In between meetings, Rhoades "kept a phone handy, making introductory calls to important donors" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/11).