Wikipedia

Laird Veatch

Laird Veatch is an American university sports administrator who is currently the athletic director at the University of Missouri. Veatch was previously the athletic director at the University of Memphis.

Laird Veatch
Current position
TitleAthletic director
TeamMissouri
ConferenceSEC
Biographical details
BornManhattan, Kansas, U.S.
Playing career
1990–1994Kansas State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1995–1997Texas (GA)
1997–2002Missouri (assistant)
2002–2003Iowa State (associate athletics director)
2010–2015Kansas State (associate athletics director)
2015–2017Kansas State (deputy athletic director)
2017Kansas State (interim athletic director)
2017–2019Florida (associate athletics director)
2019–2024Memphis
2024–presentMissouri

Early life

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Veatch was born in Manhattan, Kansas, where he attended Manhattan High School.[1] While in Manhattan, Veatch played baseball, basketball, football, and track.[1] Veatch attended Kansas State University, where he played football and was a captain for the football team his senior year.[2]

Career

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Veatch started his administrator career at the University of Texas, where he assisted with the development program and external affairs while earning his master's degree.[3] In 1997, Veatch began working at the University of Missouri, eventually as the assistant director of development.[4] In his first stint at Missouri, Veatch managed the Tiger Scholarship Fund.[5] After a one-year stint at Iowa State University, Veatch joined Learfield Sports in 2003.[6] Veatch started as general manager of Mizzou Sports Properties before becoming vice president for Learfield in Missouri from 2006 to 2010.[7] Veatch rejoined the collegiate world in 2010 as an associate director for his alma mater, Kansas State.[1] He later became deputy athletic director in 2015[8] and interim athletic director in 2017 after the previous athletic director, John Currie, left for the University of Tennessee.[9] During his time at Kansas State, Veatch oversaw an $85 million renovation to the west side of Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium and the construction of a $60 million football training complex.[10] In 2017, Veatch joined the University of Florida as an executive associate athletic director.[11] While at Florida, Veatch oversaw renovations for the university's softball stadium, and the construction of both a new baseball stadium and an athletic facility for football.[12]

Memphis

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In 2019, Veatch became the athletic director for the University of Memphis.[13][14] While at Memphis, Veatch hired Ryan Silverfield as head coach for the Memphis Tigers football team.[15] Additionally, Veatch oversaw the beginning of a $200 million renovation for Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, which is set to be completed in 2025.[16][17] Veatch placed importance on securing NIL deals while at Memphis,[18] concerned about the possibilities of players leaving for wealthier programs.[19][20] One of the deals Veatch helped secure was a $25 million deal with FedEx.[21][22]

Missouri

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In 2024, Veatch returned to the University of Missouri as athletic director.[23][24] Veatch hired some of his colleagues at Memphis for positions at Missouri upon his arrival.[25] Veatch listed his goals at Missouri to be "boost revenue without limiting expenses" and to achieve a higher level of financial independence from the SEC along with a larger budget surplus.[26][27] On May 1, 2026 Mizzou announced a three-year extension to Veatch's contract. In 2025 Veatch lead Mizzou to a record $182 million in revenue and reduced its negative operational balance by 40 percent.[28]

Personal life

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Veatch received his bachelor's degree from Kansas State in 1995 in business administration and his master's degree from Texas in 1997 in sports administration.[29] Veatch is married to his wife, Brandy, and has four children: Jordyn, Taylor, Sydney, and Druzie Veatch.[30]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Black, Ryan (January 12, 2020). "'Part of our fabric' Manhattan, K-State will always be part of 'fabric' of Memphis AD Laird Veatch". The Mercury. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  2. ↑ Murtaugh, Frank (January 15, 2020). "Laird Veatch". Memphis Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Laird Veatch". Financial Executives. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  4. ↑ McAndrew, Calum (April 23, 2024). "5 things to know about new Missouri athletic director Laird Veatch". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  5. ↑ McAndrew, Calum (April 23, 2024). "5 things to know about new Missouri athletic director Laird Veatch". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Laird Veatch". Financial Executives. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  7. ↑ Hadusek, Jon (December 29, 2020). "Paths to Success: Where Are They Now?". Como Magazine. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  8. ↑ "2015 K-State Football Media Guide". Issuu. July 21, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  9. ↑ Corbitt, Ken (March 4, 2017). "Laird Veatch honored to get dream job at K-State — even on interim basis". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  10. ↑ Popp, Scott. "Construction Continues at Bill Snyder Family Stadium". The Law Company. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  11. ↑ Corbitt, Ken (May 16, 2017). "Laird Veatch leaving K-State for position at Florida". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  12. ↑ Thompson, Edgar (August 9, 2019). "UF AD Scott Stricklin loses right-hand man Laird Veatch to Memphis AD post". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Memphis hires Florida's Laird Veatch as athletic director". AP News. August 9, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  14. ↑ Barnes, Evan (August 12, 2019). "Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch signs five-year contract at $500,000 per year". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Memphis hires interim Ryan Silverfield as Tigers' new coach". AP News. December 13, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  16. ↑ Munz, Jason (August 25, 2021). "Memphis AD Laird Veatch announces athletics facilities priorities for the next decade". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  17. ↑ Giannotto, Mark (July 31, 2023). "Here's what Memphis Tigers AD said about chances at Big 12, stadium funding, state of football team". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  18. ↑ Yusef, Omar (March 17, 2024). "U of M announces new hires to bolster NIL efforts; where university stands compared to rival AAC schools". Memphis Business Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  19. ↑ Barnes, Evan (December 1, 2022). "AD's email to boosters supports Ryan Silverfield, Memphis football but 'close is not good enough'". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Memphis AD Laird Veatch asks boosters for more NIL money, warns teams could lose players". Eccker Sports. November 18, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  21. ↑ "FedEx pledges $25 million over 5 years in NIL program for University of Memphis athletes". AP News. April 19, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  22. ↑ Randall, Robert (April 20, 2024). "Memphis and FedEx Agree to Landmark NIL Partnership". The Daily Helmsman. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  23. ↑ Skretta, Dave (April 23, 2024). "Missouri hires Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch for the same role with the Tigers". AP News. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  24. ↑ McAndrew, Calum (April 23, 2024). "Laird Veatch officially named next athletic director at Missouri". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  25. ↑ Munz, Jason (July 6, 2024). "Three Memphis athletic department staffers to join Laird Veatch at Missouri". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  26. ↑ Landwehr, Abigail (May 3, 2024). "Mizzou sets 'clear fiscal goals' for new AD Veatch". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  27. ↑ Dearmond, Gabe (November 1, 2024). "Changes coming to Mizzou: One on one with Athletic Director Laird Veatch". 247 Sports. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  28. ↑ Athletics, Mizzou (May 1, 2026). "Mizzou Announces Contract Extension for Director of Athletics Laird Veatch". mutigers. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Laird Veatch". Financial Executives. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Laird Veatch". Missouri Tigers. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
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