COLUMBIA, Mo. — Surprise departures tend to create more questions than answers.
Such is the nature of Desiree Reed-Francois’ abrupt exit from the University of Missouri’s athletics director role, a sudden personnel shift made all the more perplexing by her landing at the University of Arizona — where she went to law school, yes, but a program in a less-prestigious conference with high-profile financial problems.
In Columbia, the MU athletics department will move on quickly. The search for Reed-Francois’ replacement is already underway. The school’s highest-paid employee, football coach Eli Drinkwitz, sees a bright future.