There is a new person in charge of the Missouri athletic department. Desiree Reed-Francois, formerly the athletic director at UNLV, was hired for the same position at Mizzou on Sunday. She replaces Jim Sterk, who announced his resignation in July.

“It is truly an honor to join Missouri’s flagship institution, and I am extremely grateful to search committee Chair Layman and members of the search advisory committee for this incredible opportunity,” Reed-Francois said in a statement on Sunday.

On Monday, following the Tigers’ latest fall practice, head coach Eli Drinkwitz gave his thoughts on the hiring of Reed-Francois.

“[I’m] very excited about what she’s going to bring to the table,” Drinkwitz said, according to Rivals.com. “I think anytime you have a fresh perspective and fresh eyes and fresh ideas, it’s an opportunity for us to grow and learn. Obviously she’s got great experience, has been in the SEC before, has done nice work at Virginia Tech and UNLV. So [I] look forward to partnering with her and continuing to push this program forward and this athletics department forward.”

Although Drinkwitz has not met Reed-Francois as of yet, he expressed optimism over her arrival.

“[I’m] looking forward to get to work with her and continue our goals of raising the profile of Mizzou athletics, working with her as a team, but also our goal of competing for championships here in the SEC,” he said.