University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced March 9, 2015, that Mack B. Rhoades IV had been appointed director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Mizzou, a post he assumed on April 27, 2015.
Rhoades came to Columbia, Mo., after serving as vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Houston, where he oversaw 17 varsity sports and led a revival in academics and facilities since his arrival in August 2009. Prior to joining the University of Houston, Rhoades was director of athletics at the University of Akron.
At the University of Houston, Rhoades rejuvenated the athletics program across the board, including enhancements in the student athlete experience, academics, facilities, fundraising and competitiveness. During the 2013-14 academic year, 10 of the 17 sports programs competed in NCAA postseason competition. The football team participated in bowl games four times in a six-year span, including the 2011 season when the Cougars were ranked as high as No. 6 in the BCS standings and competed in two consecutive bowl games in 2013 and 2014. In almost every academic measurement, including GPA and APR, Houston reached record levels; Rhoades created the Cougar Pride Leadership Academy to provide life-long leadership skills for student-athletes.
During his tenure, Houston raised nearly $100 million and built $160 million worth of new facilities, including a new on-campus football stadium and a men's and women's basketball development center. Rhoades also negotiated a new multi-media rights deal for the athletics program as well as one of the top five facility naming rights deals at the collegiate level.
Additionally, Rhoades and Dr. Renu Khator successfully steered Houston into a new era as the university was invited in December 2011 to join The American Athletic Conference beginning with the 2013-14 academic year. The first year in The American saw one of the most successful years in Houston Athletics history as Houston's programs combined for 157 victories, 17 American individual championships, 10 NCAA postseason berths and two American team titles. The surge in success led to Houston’s highest national finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup since 2000-01.
Under Rhoades' leadership, Cougar Pride, Houston Athletics' fundraising arm, set an annual donations record for the fifth consecutive year in 2013-14 as more than 3,100 Cougar Pride members contributed $4.5 million, topping the previous record of $3.5 million the year before.
Prior to his arrival at Houston, Rhoades helped Akron reach unprecedented success on and off the field. During his tenure, Akron student-athletes earned: 765 total Dean's List honors, 213 All-Conference honors, 83 Academic All-Conference awards, 20 team championships, 14 Conference Player of the Year awards and 12 All-America honors.
His drive for perfection and expectation of excellence quickly put his name on the map nationally. Rhoades served as a member of the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet -- also serving on the Administrative Committee of that cabinet, as well as leading the communications committee for the MAC.
Rhoades came to Akron after a seven-year stint at UTEP, where he most recently served as the executive senior associate athletics director. He worked his way up the ranks with the Miners after joining the staff as assistant AD for development. In his final role with UTEP, Rhoades oversaw all fundraising, the marketing and media relations offices as well as football external operations, men's basketball, men's golf, licensing, Miner Athletic Club and the athletics ticket office.
Rhoades holds a bachelor's degree in health sciences from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in athletics administration/sports management from Indiana University.
He and his wife, Amy, have three daughters - Nicolette, Natalie and Noelle.
What They're Saying About Mack Rhoades…
"I got to know Mack down in Houston when I was with the MLS franchise and we were leasing the stadium at the university while we were building our own facilities. We had an excellent working relationship. He was always very accomodating to us and very customer-service focused. Mack is a very smart guy and very engaging. He may be one of the best fundraisers in the country. I'm glad to see him get the position at Missouri, and I know he'll be tough to replace at Houston."
– Oliver Luck, Executive Vice President, NCAA
"Mack was with us for seven years and did an outstanding job. He is a people person and well-liked by coaches, staff, fans and donors. Mack is an excellent fundraiser who helped us build three major facilities here at UTEP and continued with major projects at both Akron and Houston. He has expertise and experience in all aspects of athletic administration, including marketing, compliance, development, student-athlete services, strategic planning, hiring and development of coaches and staff. Mack is an excellent fit for MU, and he and his wonderful wife, Amy, and their daughters will be a great asset to the Columbia community. We wish him the best of luck."
– Bob Stull, Director of Athletics, University of Texas at El Paso
"Mack is an extremely talented administrator and a wonderful person. I really enjoyed working with Mack and I know he will do great things at Mizzou."
– Britton Banowsky, Commissioner, Conference USA
"Mack Rhoades was an excellent boss at Houston and remains a great friend today. He is a tremendous leader and a great communicator with the students, coaches and donors. He will do a great job at Missouri and is an excellent addition to the Southeastern Conference."
– Kevin Sumlin, Head Football Coach, Texas A&M University
"Congratulations go out to my colleague and good friend Mack Rhoades. He will be dearly missed, but he leaves our program here at the University of Houston better off than when he came in. I'll always think of him when I see that new stadium, and that's quite a legacy to leave. Even though he's leaving us, I look forward to a long friendship with Mack and his family, and wish them the best at Missouri."
– Carl Lewis, Assistant Track & Field Coach, University of Houston
"Mack modernized the entire athletic department at the University of Houston. He brought tremendous passion and vision to our program. He's one of the bright young minds in the college community. We are going to miss him."
– Jim Nantz, CBS Sports Broadcaster and University of Houston Alumnus
"I consider Mack Rhoades to be one of our great servant-leaders. Mack has a true passion for building - building on tradition, building facilities, building a donor base, building a talented staff, and most importantly, building the student-athlete experience. Mack values people first and is a systematic leader and mentor for his campus and the industry of intercollegiate athletics. I am certain Mack will be an amazing asset for the University of Missouri. He and his wife, Amy, are dear friends, and I wish them well as they join the Mizzou family."
– Danielle Donehew, Executive Director, Women's Basketball Coaches Association
"Mack Rhoades is the perfect person to lead Mizzou in the SEC. He was the best AD at a non-Power 5 conference school in the country and accomplished the unthinkable at Houston in getting an on-campus football stadium built. He also had the vision to target Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman, which was one of the best new coaching hires. His energy, passion and experience will pay huge dividends at Missouri."
– Brett McMurphy, ESPN College Football Insider
"Mack Rhoades is one of the most dynamic college administrators in the country. Because of his leadership, Houston was able to tear down its old football stadium and build a new one on top of it within a two-year span. That ability to get things done quickly and efficiently is almost unheard of in college administration these days. Rhoades is a leader and a visionary. He will be a great fit for Mizzou."
– Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports National College Football Writer