Asked about his contract status and any possible extension, he said, “I’ve got two years. Nothing too much (to report) for now.”
Sterk’s contract expires June 30, 2023.
In Monday’s email to department employees, which was obtained by the Post-Dispatch, Sterk said, “I appreciate my time working with each of you, and will make the transition as seamless as possible. I hope to see many of you over the next few weeks to personally thank you for making Mizzou Athletics a great place over the past five years.”
Several athletics department employees described Monday’s news as shocking. Sterk recently met with the strategic communications team about the search to replace recently departed deputy AD Nick Joos, who started a job Monday at Iowa State. Sterk gave no indications he was leaving, several sources said.
“I am grateful for the hard work of our amazing staff, coaches and student-athletes, as well as the generous support of our alumni and friends during my tenure as athletics director,” Sterk said in a statement released by the university. “I believe that Mizzou Athletics is well positioned for future success, and I wish our coaches and student-athletes well in their continued quest for academic and athletic excellence. MIZ.”
Sterk, 65, was hired in August of 2016 and agreed to a seven-year contract paying him $700,000 per year. Under his watch, Mizzou achieved major facility upgrades and saw fundraising hit record highs this past year. Under his watch Mizzou completed the $98 million south end zone facility at Memorial Stadium and recently approved a $32 million football indoor practice facility.
