Missouri athletics is making a notable leadership shuffle, bringing Bryan Maggard back to Columbia while preparing for the retirement of longtime administrator Marcy Girton.
The biggest move in Tuesday’s announcement was Maggard’s hire from Louisiana, where he had been serving as vice president for intercollegiate athletics. At Missouri, he will step in as chief operating officer and become one of the department’s three deputy athletic directors.
Eric Morrison already holds one of those deputy roles, and the Tigers said they have opened a national search for the third spot. That position will work closely with Mizzou’s Olympic sports and will also take over Girton’s senior woman administrator duties.
Maggard’s return gives Missouri a familiar face with deep ties to the program. He spent 22 years in MU’s athletic department from 1995-2017, working under Joe Castiglione, Mike Alden, Mack Rhoades and Jim Sterk. When Louisiana hired him as athletic director in 2017, he was serving as Missouri’s executive associate athletic director under Sterk.
His résumé has grown even more prominent since then. In March, Maggard was appointed to the College Football Playoff selection committee. He also served as chair of the Sun Belt Conference Athletics Directors and was a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee.
“I'm incredibly honored and humbled to return to the University of Missouri," Maggard said in a release. "Mizzou has always held a special place in my heart, and I'm grateful to Laird Veatch for the opportunity to come home and help lead this department into its next chapter.”
Girton’s departure closes a long run in college athletics that has included a major impact at Missouri. She joined the university in 2023 as senior associate AD for football and later served as interim athletic director in 2024 for several months before Laird Veatch was hired permanently. She also played a significant role in the final push for approval of the $250-million renovation to Memorial Stadium’s north end zone.
Since then, Girton has held the titles of deputy athletic director, chief operating officer and senior woman administrator. Missouri said she will retire in mid-August after more than 40 years in college athletics.
“Marcy has been a faithful servant to student-athletes. She does it for the right reason.
She's left Mizzou in a better place than she found it,” MU football head coach Eli Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Media Days. “She served at multiple other SEC institutions, and everybody knows that she is a class act when it comes to student-athlete wellness, student-athlete performance, and in having the best interest of student-athletes.
“So, I want to say I really appreciate her in her life's work and mission in education, and we're going to miss her.”
Girton also reflected on her career in a release.
“I am so appreciative of the incredible opportunity to have spent 43 years in collegiate athletics,” Girton said in a news release. “The greatest joy of this journey has been the privilege of working alongside outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff who continually strive for excellence and make a meaningful impact on those around them. I am especially thankful to conclude my career as a Missouri Tiger.”
Missouri also said Tuesday that several other staff transitions and promotions are coming.
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