COLUMBIA, Mo. — Mack Rhoades will leave the University of Missouri to become the new Vice President and Director of Athletics at Baylor, according to a release from the athletic department.
The decision ends a rocky 14 months for Rhoades in which Mizzou Athletics was under a national microscope multiple times. He replaces Ian McCaw, who resigned in the wake of a sexual assault scandal involving the football program that developed in recent months. Head football coach Art Briles was also removed.
Rhoades was hired on March 9, 2015 to replace Mike Alden, who had served in that position at Mizzou for 17 years.
"I met with Chancellor Foley this morning to inform him of my decision to accept the Vice President and Director of Athletics position at Baylor University," Rhoades said in a release from the Missouri athletic department. "While my family is excited to start this new chapter in our lives, we do so with great appreciation for our time at Mizzou. We've met many wonderful people and made lasting friendships. I believe the athletic department has a very bright future. I would also like to thank Chancellor Foley for his leadership the past few months."
Deputy Wren Baker will serve as interim athletic director.
The most notable drama under Rhoades came last November when the football team made public their intention to boycott games and practices until president Tim Wolfe was removed from his position. Wolfe eventually resigned along with Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin.
The Missouri men's basketball team went 19-44 in two seasons under Kim Anderson with Rhoades leading the department. Speculation circled following the season as to whether Rhoades would search for a replacement.
The spring brought a probe into head softball coach Ehren Earleywine based around player comments. The investigation led players to compete under protest and remains unsolved. Longtime head baseball coach Tim Jamieson also stepped down after this season. Rhoades hired former SEMO coach Steve Bieser as the program's 14th head coach.
Mizzou head football coach Barry Odom told the SEC Network that he talked with Rhoades about his decision on Tuesday night.
"He's got an opportunity that he thought was best for him," Odom told reporters at SEC Media Day. "I know that I'm very excited about the University of Missouri and what I've got in place froma football standpoint.I know we'll get a great Director of Athletics in there. What we've done in the last eight months is going to set us up for the next 20 years."
