Missouri hires Jim Sterk as athletic director

Missouri has finally filled the void at the top of its athletic department.

The Tigers will announce the hiring of San Diego State athletic director Jim Sterk to fill its own AD position, currently held on an interim basis by Hank Foley, the Aztecs confirmed Monday evening.

"Jim has made extraordinary contributions to the success of SDSU’s athletics teams," San Diego president Elliot Hirshman said. "I am grateful to Jim and his family for their service to the university community and wish them great success in their new endeavor."

Sterk will start his new role with Missouri on Sept. 1.

After former director Mack Rhoades elected to leave for the same position at Baylor only a year after taking the job, the position has been a revolving door of sorts at Missouri. Wren Baker was named to the position on an interim basis, but bolted to North Texas soon after.

Sterk was named Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2016, and has spent seven years at San Diego State. Sterk also has experience as AD of both Portland State and Washington State.

Sterk's first year at Missouri may be anything but a walk in the park, with the football program coming off of a dismal 5-7 season, and the men's basketball program currently on probation until August of 2017.