Missouri Board of Curators call special meeting for Monday

Missouri chancellor R. Bowen Loftin promised a quick search for outgoing athletic director Mike Alden’s replacement.

There are signs that search might wrap up in fewer than six weeks after the University of Missouri System Board of Curators announced a special meeting at 7:30 a.m. Monday at University Hall in Columbia.

The meeting immediately will go into executive session for “consideration of certain confidential or privileged communications with university counsel, negotiated contracts and personnel matters,” according to the online public meeting notice.

Such a meeting would be a necessary step before a formal contract offer for a new athletic director could be approved.

Alden, who has been the Tigers’ athletic director since 1998, announced plans Jan. 29 to step down effective Aug. 31. He will remain at MU as an instructor in the College of Education.

MU hired Korn Ferry, an international search firm that also is leading the search for SEC commissioner Mike Slive’s replacement.

Korn Ferry was paid an initial retainer of $75,000 and its fee is capped at $200,000 plus expenses.

This story was originally published March 6, 2015 at 11:49 AM with the headline "Missouri Board of Curators call special meeting for Monday."