New Missouri State president Dr. Richard "Biff" Williams provided an updated timeline on the university's search for its next athletics director while also detailing the type of candidate he is looking for.
In an interview with the News-Leader, MSU's new boss said the school received almost 50 applicants for the job and the committee spent this past week interviewing eight semifinalists via Zoom.
Williams said the search committee, chaired by Brent Dunn, the school's vice president for university advancement, will soon bring 3-5 candidates on campus to be assessed further.
"From the caliber, I've reviewed most of the résumés for those athletic director candidates, we have a great pool," Williams said. "I'm really pleased with that pool. Now having said that, if they come to campus and we don't feel like there's a great fit, which would be surprising, but you never know, then we'll advertise again and we'll make sure that we do get the right fit."
Kyle Moats vacated Missouri State's AD position on July 1 while accepting the same position at Eastern Kentucky. He had been MSU's athletics director since 2009. Casey Hunt, who has been with Missouri State athletics since 2003, is currently the athletics department's interim AD.
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What is Missouri State's timeline for finding a new athletics director?
Missouri State initially outlined its athletics director search on June 12 saying it hoped to have a new AD in place within six to eight weeks which would have brought the timeline for a decision to the first full week of August. That timeline has shifted slightly with the school also saying it plans to hold public forums before a hire is made.
"It will depend on who we're bringing in and where they're coming from," Williams said. "I'm thinking that will be anywhere from the middle to the end of August and then at the end of August for reviews. Hopefully, we'll have somebody identified by September. That could fluctuate where it's sooner and it could fluctuate a little if it's later. But the goal is to get it done quickly."
What is Dr. Richard 'Biff' Williams looking for in Missouri State's next AD?
Whoever Williams and Missouri State's search committee hires needs to know the business, the new president said.
"We need an individual that knows how to hire coaches, an individual that knows student-athletes and an individual that puts academic performance first," Williams said. "We want our student-athletes to leave here with a degree and we also want them to perform at the highest level."
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Williams stressed the importance of fundraising for his athletics director. He said he wants a "very charismatic" AD who can be in the community and recognize how important athletics is to Springfield.
"They're going to have to be very strategic and they're going to have to know how to hire the right people," Williams said. "It's a tall order but I do think those individuals exist. And I think from looking at the caliber of résumés, I think we will find someone that's really good for Missouri State."
What challenges are ahead for Missouri State's next athletics director?
When asked about the challenges ahead, Williams' first response wasn't about the ever-changing college athletics landscape or Missouri State's upcoming move to Conference USA.
It was about the fans.
"We need community support and, as you know, it's waned a little ," Williams said. "I think we've hired a great basketball coach, we have a great football coach, our women's basketball team is just amazing and looking at our soccer team, they perform really well.
"It's really about getting that community support. We need people to come and support our student-athletes. We need to make sure that the fan experience is where it needs to be so we can have those fans wanting to return."
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Williams said Missouri State needs to assess its facilities, noting Plaster Stadium "needs some love." He said the school needs "great community support" to help with any enhancements, also saying it's a tall order.
"Football is going to be very important but all our sports are going to be very important," Williams said. "We just can't invest in one sport. We need to invest in all sports."
Biff Williams wants to conduct a 'listening tour' with his new AD once one is hired
Once a new athletics director is hired, Williams said he wants to conduct a "listening tour" with the selection.
Williams, a few weeks into his role as Missouri State's president, said he's been on a listening tour of his own, trying to figure out the school's biggest needs while establishing relationships. He thinks such a tour would benefit the next leader of the Bears' athletics department.
"I think we should go collectively together to find out what needs to take place," Williams said. "We're going to do that with all aspects of the university. We're listening on the academic side and on the student-service side and on the auxiliary side. Really, our approach is 'How do we help all ships rise?' and I think we can do that."
News-Leader reporter Claudette Riley contributed to this report
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State President Richard 'Biff' Williams updates school's AD search, timeline
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