Aug. 2, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri Director of Athletics Mike Alden announced on Tuesday that Whit Babcock has been hired as his Senior Associate Athletics Director.
A native of Harrisonburg, Va., Babcock comes to the University of Missouri following a five-year stint as the Assistant Athletics Director and Executive Director of Development for West Virginia University.
During his tenure at WVU, private giving increased by more than 200 percent to a total of $14 million annually. Babcock also led the fundraising efforts associated with a $35 million athletics facility enhancement campaign while serving on the senior staff.
At Missouri, Babcock will oversee all fund-raising matters related to the Tiger Scholarship Fund, while providing directorial oversight to the Marketing and Promotions Department, Athletics Ticket Office, and Mizzou Sports Properties.
"I'm pleased that Whit Babcock has made the decision to join our staff at the University of Missouri," Alden said. "We identified Whit early on in our recruiting process as someone whose ideals mirrored our own at Mizzou. His experience at the highest levels of college athletics will help provide a fresh perspective for the talented staff we have in place. I look forward to working with Whit and am pleased to welcome his wife Kelly and three sons, Andrew, Brett and Eli, to the Columbia community."
Prior to his stint at West Virginia, Babcock spent five years at Auburn, including the final two as Assistant Athletics Director for Development.
During his time in Auburn, he supervised a development staff that generated between $12-14 million annually, while serving on the executive planning committee for the Tigers' $80 million capital campaign for athletics.
"I'm certainly honored to be joining the team at the University of Missouri," Babcock said. "I would like to thank Mike Alden for this tremendous opportunity. Making the decision to leave West Virginia wasn't an easy one. We made so many great friends during our five years in Morgantown. However, once my wife and I had a chance to speak with Mike and Rockie Alden, meet with several staff members and TSF donors, and visit the campus and Columbia community, we felt as though this was the right fit for us."
A former collegiate athlete himself, Babcock lettered four seasons for the James Madison University Baseball program, serving as team captain during his senior campaign. He earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology and sports studies in 1992 from JMU and later received his master's degree in sport management from West Virginia in 1996.