Rhoades leaving Houston for AD post at Mizzou

Columbia, MO (SportsNetwork.com) – Mack Rhoades has decided to leave his post as the athletic director at the University of Houston for the same position at Missouri.

Rhoades had been at Houston since the summer of the 2009 and also served as AD at Akron from 2006-09. He will replace Mike Alden, who announced his intention to step down in January.

“Mack Rhoades brings a wealth of experience as a Division I athletic director to Mizzou, and he has demonstrated a commitment to our core values of academic integrity, social responsibility and competitive excellence,” said Missouri chancellor R. Bowen Loftin in a statement Monday. “I am delighted to welcome a leader with a track record of enhancing the student-athlete experience and a proven record in fundraising and facility development. We found the right fit at the right time to take Mizzou athletics to even greater heights.”

During his time in Houston, Rhoades rejuvenated the athletics program across the board. During the 2013-14 academic year, 10 of the 17 sports programs competed in NCAA postseason competition. The football team has participated in bowl games in four of the last six seasons, including the 2011 season when the Cougars were ranked as high as No. 6 in the BCS standings.

“The University of Missouri is a world-class institution, and I am honored to serve as its next director of athletics,” said Rhoades. “Success begins with great people and I look forward to working with our talented student-athletes, coaches and staff to keep the athletics program among the nation’s elite.”

Rhoades, before taking the AD post at Akron, previously worked in the athletic departments at Texas-El Paso, Yale and Marquette.

Alden has been at the helm of Missouri athletics since 1998.

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