Mizzou Tigers athletic director Jim Sterk agrees to leave post after successor found

The University of Missouri will have a new athletic boss.

Athletic director Jim Sterk is stepping down after reaching an agreement to leave his job with the state’s flagship university.

Sterk, 65, will stay on through the search process while a successor is found, according to a Monday afternoon news release from the school.

The news comes on the same day that former fellow Big 12 Conference members Texas and Oklahoma officially announced that they’d begun the process for exiting the Big 12, presumably bound for the SEC — the same conference Mizzou now occupies 10 years after leaving the Big 12.

“We are grateful for the dedicated leadership Jim has provided over the last five years to position Mizzou for even greater success,” University of Missouri president Mun Choi said in the release. “We recognize his many contributions and appreciate his continued role as we search for the next leader of Mizzou Athletics.

“We now begin a national search for a visionary athletics director who will develop a strategic plan for Mizzou to achieve exceptional success in the SEC and to navigate a bold path in the rapidly evolving world of collegiate athletics.”

Sterk was the 20th athletic director in Mizzou’s history. He succeeded Mack Rhoades in 2016. Sterk was hired from San Diego State and previously served as A.D. at Washington State and Portland State.

During Sterk’s time at Mizzou, the athletic program made progress in new facilities, fundraising and increased academic and athletic success..

MU’s $98 million South End Zone Facility opened in summer 2019, and ground will be broken this fall on a new $34 million indoor football practice facility southwest of Memorial Stadium.

He made several head coaching hires, including football’s Eli Drinkwitz after the 2019 season. Drinkwitz replaced Barry Odom.

Sterk also hired men’s basketball coach Cuonzo Martin in 2017. Martin has made two NCAA Tournaments in four seasons.

Earlier this year, Sterk had to tamp down speculation that he was interested in leaving Missouri for Central Florida.

Sterk issued the following statement Monday:

“I am grateful for the hard work of our amazing staff, coaches and student-athletes, as well as the generous support of our alumni and friends during my tenure as athletics director. I believe that Mizzou Athletics is well positioned for future success, and I wish our coaches and student-athletes well in their continued quest for academic and athletic excellence. MIZ.”