With a championship vision and a "roll up the sleeves" work ethic, University of Missouri Director of Athletics Michael Alden has already made an indelible mark on Tiger Athletics in just two short years on the job. Since taking over in 1998, Alden set out to position Mizzou as a leader at both the conference and national levels, and the Tigers' recent accomplishments reflect that on and off the field, MU's program is on the rise. Athletically, Missouri's achievements are well documented. For the 1999-2000 school year, the Kansas City Star rated MU's program fifth in the Big 12 Conference all-sport standings, marking the second straight year under Alden that the Tigers have ranked among the powerhouse league's upper tier. On the national scope, the 1999-2000 season was quite possibly MU's finest ever. Six different Tiger teams qualified for NCAA post-season competition, including men's basketball, under first-year coach Quin Snyder. Other postseason teams included soccer, men's and women's cross country, gymnastics, and women's golf. Individually, Tiger athletes qualified for NCAA competition in men's and women's track and field, women's swimming and wrestling. Additionally, the women's basketball program made its first-ever appearance in the Women's NIT. Such national success translated into a 52nd-place finish in the Sears' Directors Cup, which ranks all NCAA Division I programs on their overall strength. The showing represented MU's best-ever finish in the rankings. But Alden's drive to make Mizzou one of the nation's most comprehensive programs isn't limited to the playing field. Tiger student-athletes have achieved new academic heights under Alden's direction, as evidenced by the 1999 NCAA Graduation Report, which confirmed that MU's graduation rates were the highest in the Big 12 Conference. Additionally, each of the last two semesters has seen Tiger student athletes record the highest overall grade point averages in MU history, including a program-best 2.846 GPA in the Winter 2000 semester. At the heart of every successful program lie sound resources for its lifeblood - its student-athletes. Alden has made it a priority to provide the resources needed to create an environment in which Mizzou student-athletes can achieve at the highest level academically, socially and athletically. Prior to Alden's arrival, Missouri found itself mired near the bottom of the Big 12 Conference in operating budget. But thanks to proactive fundraising efforts and sound management principles, MU now ranks in the league's top five in that category. Mizzou went to battle for the 2000-01 season with a record $25 million budget, which is a near 100 percent increase from a working ledger of $13 million just three years ago. Alden has kept alive and even accelerated the University's commitment to excellence in its athletic facilities. In the past year, projects included the construction of a $13 million state-of-the-art pressbox facility at Memorial Stadium, a 3,000-square foot addition to the Yeckel Weight Room, the construction of the Ralph and Debbie Taylor Phi Delta Theta Baseball Stadium, improvements to the Hearnes Center, and an improvement of football practice fields, among others. Other successful areas of emphases in which Alden has implemented include:
On July 16, 1998, MU Chancellor Richard Wallace introduced Alden as MU's new athletic director. Previous to his Missouri appointment, Alden served as director of athletics at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas from 1996-98. Alden has worked in athletic administration at the Division I level since 1985. He served as assistant athletic director for administration at Arizona State University from 1985-92, and as associate athletic director for development at the University of New Mexico from 1992-96. In the early 1980s, Alden was offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator (1982-84) at the University of Evansville. He moved on to the University of Pennsylvania (1984-85) and was offensive line coach and strength coach for Penn's 1984 Ivy League championship team. Alden earned a master's degree in educational administration/supervision from Arizona State University. He holds two degrees from Evansville, where he was a starting member of the football team - a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. A native of Chicago, Alden chairs the NCAA committee that directs the National Youth Sports Program, an outreach program directed at economically disadvantaged youth, and was recently appointed to the NCAA Championships Cabinet where he will be serving a four year term. He and his wife, the former Roxanne (Rockie) Falk, have a son, Jake (5). PERSONAL • Hometown • Education • Professional Experience • Family |
