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Missouri will be looking for a new athletic director soon.
Mack Rhoades will leave Columbia to become the athletic director at Baylor, the school announced Wednesday. Rhoades will succeed Ian McCaw, who was ousted in an upheaval in Waco after a sexual assault scandal at the university.
Baylor Family, please welcome our new Vice President and Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades to Central Texas. #SicEm pic.twitter.com/pm9QZv4BVB
— Baylor Athletics (@BaylorAthletics) July 13, 2016
Here’s Rhoades’ statement about the move via a Baylor release:
“The past year has taught me a great deal about who I am as a person and as a leader. I am very grateful to the people I’ve worked with and come to know throughout the state of Missouri. The experience has helped galvanized a commitment to my core values and to the values I want to infuse into an athletics program. I look forward to the opportunity to join Baylor University at this important time in its history. I am excited to support and develop programs of the highest caliber, in facilities that are second to none, alongside coaches who are among the best in the industry, all grounded in a Christian tradition and committed to academic excellence.”
Shortly after the announcement, Missouri named Wren Baker as interim athletic director.
Mizzou announces deputy Wren Baker will serve as interim athletic director
— Blair Kerkhoff (@BlairKerkhoff) July 13, 2016
Rhoades had a short stay at Missouri. He assumed the role in April 2015 after arriving from the University of Houston, where he hired Tom Herman.
There wasn’t a shortage of headlines at Mizzou, though. Rhoades hired Barry Odom after long-time coach Gary Pinkel retired after last season, and Rhoades was at the helm when the football program navigated through racial tensions on campus last fall.
Odom was left to address Rhoades’ situation Wednesday at SEC Media Days:
Missouri coach Barry Odom said he found out last night Rhoades was leaving after a long conversation. Odom said he was surprised.
— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomon35) July 13, 2016
Odom said Rhoades didn't tell him why he's leaving: "Didn't get into that."
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) July 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/GabeDeArmond/status/753315513573310464
