April 29, 2024
Athletic Director Laird Veatch and his family were greeted by Truman the Tiger and members of the University of Missouri Cheerleading team as they arrived at Mizzou Arena on Friday, April 26. Mizzou's new AD spent Friday on a non-stop tour before holding his introductory press conference.
Veatch greeted Robin Pingeton, Mizzou women's basketball coach, on the court at Mizzou Arena. A native of Manhattan, Kansas, and former four-year football letterman at Kansas State, Veatch, spent about a decade at Mizzou, first in the development branch of the athletics department (1997-2002) and then as general manager of Mizzou Sports Properties (2003-06).
Veatch met with Whitten Family Men's Basketball Head Coach Dennis Gates at Memorial Stadium before the press conference at the Stephens Indoor Practice Facility. "This Mizzou momentum thing is very real, and I can't wait to be a part of it," Veatch said during his press conference speech.
Veatch greeted former Mizzou Football head coach Gary Pinkel before the press conference at the Stephens Indoor Practice Facility. In his press conference speech, Veatch said, "This is where we want to be. We have been ready for our forever home."
Curator Jeanne Sinquefield, UM Board Chair Robin Wenneker, Veatch, Curator Todd Graves and University of Missouri President Mun Choi pose for a picture during the press conference. “AD Veatch is a proven leader with the vision we need to achieve our championship goals,” Choi said.
In his press conference speech, Veatch delivered his first message to the student-athletes: "I got into this because I was you. So everything we do is going to be about your experience and about investing in value and support for you, and all the things that you do competitively, in the classroom and your time here in mid-Missouri."
Veatch and his wife, Brandy, have three daughters, Jordyn, Taylor and Sydney, and one son, Dru. All three of his daughters were born in Columbia.
