Moats named MSU's next athletics director

Missouri State University May 28 named Kyle Moats as its 10th director of athletics.

Moats begins July 1 and replaces Bill Rowe. Rowe will retire June 30 after 27 years as MSU's top athletics administrator and more than 50 years at the school as a student, coach and administrator.

Moats currently is the associate athletics director for national marketing at the University of Louisville, according to an MSU news release. Prior to that, he was senior associate athletic director for two years at Marquette University, and he spent 14 years in the University of Kentucky athletics department, including three as associate athletics director for marketing.

He has a bachelor's degree in physical education from Southern Illinois University and a master's degree in sports management from the University of Kentucky.

A 12-member search committee reviewed 103 applicants for the position and began interviewing five finalists in late April, according to the release. Moats visited MSU May 17-19 for his first interview and returned May 27 for a follow-up interview.

Moats' hiring is contingent upon final approval by the MSU Board of Governors, which meets June 19.[[In-content Ad]]