wyatt d. wheeler, springfield news-leader
·4 min read
Missouri State needs a new athletics director after Kyle Moats departed the program to take over as AD at Eastern Kentucky.
The next athletics director will be tasked with leading Missouri State athletics into a new era when it begins competing in Conference USA in 2025-26. Challenges include maintaining a balanced budget with such a move and the need to upgrade facilities.
Here are some immediate names to ponder heading into a national search.
Barry Hinson, Oklahoma State NIL director
A chunk of the MSU fanbase thought he should’ve never been fired as MSU’s men’s basketball coach and he remains a beloved figure in the community. Hinson’s as personable as they come and his name will immediately be tossed around. He’s gathered some administrative experience by familiarizing himself with the Name, Image and Likeness changes across athletics when that’s something MSU is hoping to improve on moving forward.
Ken Beazer, Utah Tech athletics director
Incoming Missouri State president Dr. Richard “Biff” Williams hired Beazer when he was the president at Utah Tech. He’s worked in Utah Tech’s athletics department since 2015. Before then, he was the athletics director at Southern Utah, leading SUU’s move to the Big Sky.
Braun Cartwright or Chet Savage, New Mexico State deputy athletics director
Williams was a finalist for the New Mexico State president job before pulling his name out and becoming the successor to Clif Smart at MSU. The Aggie alum is familiar with the school and could look at some in an athletics department already familiar with Conference USA to lead MSU into its figure. Cartwright and Savage are the No. 2s in the NMSU athletics department with the former being the program’s chief operating officer and the latter directing fundraising.
Jerry Bovee, Utah State athletics director for external affairs
Bovee has plenty of experience after serving 10 years as the Weber State athletics director and nearly a year in an interim role at Utah State. He’s remained at Utah State, despite being a candidate for the permanent job, and he oversees USU’s external departments, including marketing and promotions, media relations and being a liaison for ticket operations and Aggie Sports Properties.
More: Missouri State to Conference USA: How other FCS-to-FBS programs have fared over the years
Jim Clark, Western Kentucky executive senior associate athletic director
Clark has been at WKU since 2000 and took over his current role in 2021. He’s responsible for the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation, the school’s donor relations and ticket office. He’s been the school's lead gift officer, as WKU is currently constructing a new indoor practice facility with new locker rooms and lounges for several sports. He’s aided in fundraising to get the CUSA program’s football facilities where they need to be. Missouri State desperately needs similar upgrades.
Nico Yankto, Murray State athletics director
Yankto is young and recognized as one of the best up-and-comers in the administration business. Selected to The Athletic’s 40 Under 40 in 2022, Yankto has previous experience as Louisiana’s deputy athletics director. He helped elevate Murray State from the Ohio Valley to the Missouri Valley. He’s known as an engaging AD who helps elevate his school’s brand. That’s something Missouri State is looking for. This would give him another opportunity to elevate a basketball brand and better opportunities on the football side at the FBS level.
More: Former Missouri State basketball player Abdul Fofana suing school over injuries: What to know
Heath Schroyer, McNeese State athletics director
Schroyer has been well-accomplished since being named McNeese State’s AD in June 2020. The school is setting athletics revenue records, it has raised millions in athletics facility upgrades and he’s overhauled coaching staffs which includes the hiring of Will Wade who led the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament this past season and has them as one of the more respected mid-major teams in the nation right now.It's worth noting he was the McNeese AD from 2018-21 before being elevated to the administrative position.
Casey Hunt, Missouri State senior associate director of athletics
Noting the No. 2 under Moats is a must. Hunt has been on MSU's athletics staff since March 2003. She oversees the operations of several of Missouri State's men's and women's programs along with its athletic training and strength and conditioning programs. She previously worked at Coastal Carolina as an assistant athletics director for compliance.
Sherard Clinkscales, Illinois Chicago deputy athletics director
Clinkscales is better known for his previous role as Indiana State’s athletics director from 2016-23. He was the one who hired Josh Shertz as its men’s basketball coach who led Indiana State to one of its more unforgettable seasons in decades this past year. He also helped Mitch Hannahs elevate the Sycamore baseball program into one that has been nationally relevant for the last two years. Clinkscales and Indiana State mutually parted ways this past year when there appeared to be administrative drama from the top that trickled down to him with his president already on her way out.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State athletics director: Who could replace Kyle Moats as AD?
