COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Director of Athletics Laird Veatch provided an update on the University of Missouri women’s basketball coaching search on Friday morning. The following is a transcript of the press conference.
University of Missouri Director of Athletics Laird Veatch
Opening statement…
“… We are excited about the future. We really believe we have a special opportunity here. We see and know from success in other programs the potential for programs to be highly successful at Mizzou, and we also know how our people support it. If you have a competitor, if you show real energy and passion and the capacity and ability to win, our people are going to be out there and support you and show up, particularly in this sport right now in this country, women’s basketball is, as you all know, clearly, it is on the rise, right. It is getting so much more attention, deservedly so, and we think it is a platform that can continue to plot and provide more brand exposure and benefit to our university, to our state, and particularly in this conference. There’s no question the SEC continues to be, seems like every sport you talk about these days, it’s right there at the top. To be really the only Midwest school in the SEC, I think that’s a real advantage in this sport in particular. Women’s basketball is highly competitive in the Midwest, and there’s a lot of talent here that can be realized.
You all are sitting in our arena. You see our facilities, that’s an investment that’s been made, and it continues to be just a great home for our program, along with all the other brand growth and momentum that you’ve seen at Mizzou right now. So, for many reasons, we feel really good about the opportunity. I want to assure you; we’re committed to it. It’s important. Women’s Basketball is important, and we want to do what it takes to be successful. We have also seen considerable interest. I know that seems like AD talk 101, you hear that every time somebody gets up and talks about a search. But I want to assure you, there is a lot of interest in this position. People do see and realize the benefit and the opportunity here, particularly in this conference.
I wanted to start by, one of the other common questions is, what are we looking for? Here is how I would articulate that, of course, there’ll be other attributes and things we will be looking for when you go through the process, but I want to start with a proven winner. Preferably head coach experience, particularly at this level, and preferably multiple stops. I think we’re at a time and place where a varied background is very beneficial with a transition of sports as we’re moving through it. A proven recruiter, somebody that really has a very clear network in the recruiting space, and also, has really demonstrated the ability to manage recruiting in this era, with transfers, etc. We want somebody with real energy, somebody to really kind of reinvigorate and reinstill energy in the program, but also is very relatable, right? I think, particularly as I know Missouri and Midwest folks, we need to have somebody that can relate to not only student-athletes, but staff, throughout our department, fans and the community. I believe it’s important to hire someone, particularly at this level of competition, who really knows herself or himself and really understands the type of program that they lead. This is not a place where you can come in and sort of learn on the fly, right? We are at the top level of competition in all of our sports, and this is certainly one of those. Want a competitor, want somebody that really expects to win at the highest level, and sees the opportunity, particularly here at Mizzou, to do that. And of course, the ultimate fit question, right? Everybody always talks about it in searches you need to find a fit. I do think that’s something that you have to go through the process to determine. But for somebody that really fits Missouri, mid-Missouri, Mizzou and our culture and what we’re trying to do here, I feel very prepared.
I feel really good about a small group of staff that we put together to get us prepared for this point. And I do recognize, from a timeline standpoint, there’s pressures in any of these high-profile hires. The question is, how soon you do want to have someone hired? You always say, as soon as possible, particularly considering the transfer portal and all the other things that we need to manage. But we also have coaches and candidates that are going to continue to be playing here, so we’ve got to be mindful of that, and we got to do and put in the time and the due diligence to make sure we hire the very best person for the position.”
On the commitment to the program…
“First of all, we are committed. We recognize we’re going to have to invest, likely, more than where we’re at right to be successful. We’ve demonstrated a commitment level, particularly in a couple of more sports, football, men’s basketball, here in recent years, and you’ve seen some of the results of that. Up to the top levels of our university, they want us to win and be successful. Obviously, to your point, there’s a balance there, and that’s the balance that’s got to be struck. We have to recognize the greater financial pressures we’re under, all the changes we’re going through, but I also think there’s more revenue upside in this sport. I do believe that while you’re not necessarily going to generate the revenue that you can in some of our other sports, it is a sport that you can really see some upside. And I think with winning, particularly, as I mentioned here, here in mid-Missouri, we’ll get a lot of people showing up and support the program. We can, prove that we’re competitive and win at a higher level. That’s something that has to be realized as we go through that process as well.”
On familiarity with the Midwest is a factor in the hiring process…
“I think it’s a factor. Just because it plays into that recruiting network, if nothing else, and it also indicates a fit, so it’s something that you want to understand and realize. I don’t think that it has to be a driving factor, it can be a benefit and add on, but we’d have to go through that and compare that to all candidates.”
On the timing of the hiring process…
“It’s something you have to kind of feel your way through. I’ve been a part of several of these searches in the past, and it depends on various individual situations where they’re at, what the candidate pool looks like. It is quite a process, and it’s really something you just have to sort of manage as you go, but understanding what that end goal is, and at some point those time pressures are going to impact what your pool looks like and when you need to make a decision, and is it worth waiting for longer, or is it not? Those are all the kinds of things you have to go through and manage as you realize the candidates.”
On the importance of coaching experience at this level…
“I think the multiple levels is probably, to me, a little more of a driving factor there. I don’t think you can necessarily pigeonhole yourself into specifics, whether that’s a conference or specific levels. I think there are various talents that can translate, so you have to dig into that further. But I do think having someone that’s proven they can win, and really knows the program is critical.”
On the pressure of the coaching hire…
“I don’t know if you feel extra pressure, there’s always pressure, once you get to a certain point that there’s a diminishing return on pressure. You constantly feel in this kind of role at this kind of level. So, it’s more of the pressure of you want to do right by the young people in the program, the fans of the program, and the people that are around it and that never changes, really, whatever level you’re at. And to me, that’s more of a driving factor than, maybe necessarily, the public attention or the high-profile nature of it. It’s, this is going to impact lives and experiences, hopefully for many years, and hopefully in a real positive way so I want to make sure we get it right.”
On what the next head coach can expand on from this season…
“I do think it’s a very well-run program, we do really well academically, very well-respected in the community, very connected there. Part of that is Robin and her leadership, and the type of person she is. I think those things are really important, particularly when you’re in a small college town in the Midwest, I think that’s extra important. We want to continue to carry that just goodness around the program forward, and then we need to compete and win at a higher level.”
On what competing and winning looks like in the future of the program…
“I never want us to shy away from expecting to win championships. We got to get to a point where, in all of our sports, we’re going to play for championships, now, that is a process, right? And that doesn’t happen overnight, and it is a highly competitive environment. So, I talk to our coaches all the time about trajectory and knowing where the programs are at and continuing to see positive movement and growth to where we get to a point where we’re competing for championships year in and year out. That has to be the continued focus.”
