Mizzou AD Mike Alden Announces Future Plans

Mizzou Director of Athletics Mike Alden has announced he will step down effective August 31, 2015, to become an instructor in the College of Education.

“It’s hard for me to overstate how grateful I am for Mike Alden, and for all that he has done for me professionally and personally,” said Mizzou Football Head Coach Gary Pinkel. “I’ve said it before that Mike Alden is the reason I came to Mizzou. His leadership and support for our program and for this Athletic Department has been transformational.

I think back to when we brought our program here, it’s really amazing to see how much better things are across the board.  It’s tough to see him leave, but I’m very happy for Mike and Rockie for being able to take this next step in their lives.”

Alden has served as Director of Athletics at Mizzou since 1998. In his new role with the College of Education, he will work with the Positive Coaching Program and teach higher education leadership courses. As a longtime volunteer, organizer, and advisor for volunteering efforts on campus, he will also assist with the launch of the Center for Global Service Learning Leadership.

“My wife, Rockie, our son, Jake, and I have had an incredible experience at Mizzou and this is simply our next step in our journey in Columbia,” Alden said in a letter to Mizzou Nation. “We are proud of what we have accomplished over the past seventeen years, which is a lifetime for an athletics administrator. I am most proud of our tremendous coaches, staff and student-athletes and how they represent our University with academic integrity, social responsibility and competitive excellence.”

Mizzou Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin, College of Education Dean Daniel Clay, and Alden be available to speak to students, faculty, and the media at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 30, in the Great Room of the Reynolds Alumni Center.

“Over seventeen years of service to the University of Missouri, Mike has transformed our athletics program into one of the nation’s best, with world-class student-athletes, coaches, staff, facilities, affiliations and financial resources,” Loftin said. “He led our institution’s move to the Southeastern Conference and has been at the helm as our teams won multiple championships over the years.  Though I am saddened that Mike will no longer be a member of our leadership team and leading our Department of Athletics, I am truly happy for him and Rockie as he embarks on a new challenge here at Mizzou.  Mike will always be a part of our family. We have already begun a national search for Mike’s successor and I am confident we will find a tremendous leader to carry us forward.”