Laird Veatch comes to UF from Kansas State, where he played football under head coach Bill Snyder. (File photo)
Veatch Named Executive Associate Athletics Director for Internal Affairs
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 | General, Football
The former Kansas State football player has been an AD at his alma mater for the past eight years.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Laird Veatch has been named Executive Associate Athletics Director for Internal Affairs at the University of Florida, UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin announced on Tuesday.
Veatch brings 23-plus years of experience in intercollegiate athletics to Gainesville, including the past seven as Deputy Athletics Director (2016-Present), Executive Associate Athletics Director (2013-15), Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Initiatives (2012-13) and Associate Athletics Director for Capital Support at his alma mater, Kansas State University.
He will succeed Chip Howard, who has been at Florida since 1989 and announced last month he is leaving this summer to become chief operating officer of Tailgate Guys.
Veatch begins at UF on July 1.
Veatch will lead the Operations and Maintenance departments, and will assist the athletic director with administrative oversight of UF Football program. He will provide leadership and direction for mid and long-range major facilities and capital projects. Laird will also work with constituents on campus and in the UF community, and will serve as liaison to various UF departments.
A 1995 K-State graduate, Veatch returned to his alma mater in December of 2009. During his time in his hometown, Manhattan, Kan., Veatch provided oversight to the Athletic Department's Senior Staff on strategic direction, fund-raising, fan experience, ticket sales and multi-media rights.
In addition, he was the lead manager of new capital facility projects, including the coordination of fund-raising, design vision and oversight of construction accountability for an $85 million dollar west-side football stadium expansion and a $65 million dollar football-training complex. The latter was completed in just seven months between football seasons.
Prior to returning home, Veatch spent seven years with Learfield Sports (2003-10), including the last four as Regional Vice President (2006-10). As Regional Vice President of Learfield Sports' Heartland Division, Veatch was responsible for the leadership and oversight of eight Division I multimedia rights departments, including four new start-up properties from the ground-up.
Learfield Sports first hired Veatch in 2003 as the General Manager for Mizzou Sports Properties before being promoted to Regional Vice President in 2006. In that role, Veatch coordinated all multi-media activities within the Missouri Athletics Department's External Operations team and directed all Mizzou Sports Properties staff, activities and performance.
Prior to that, Veatch spent two years in athletic administration including a stint as Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations at Iowa State (2002-03) where he served as a senior advisor to the Athletics Director and also directed all external operations units, including marketing, development, media relations and event management.
Preceding his two years at Iowa State, Veatch spent six years at Missouri (1997-2002), the last three as Assistant Athletics Director for Development, where he oversaw fund-raising activities for the athletic department with special emphasis on facility and capital fund-raising projects. A major contributor to Missouri's record growth in total giving, Veatch managed the Tiger Scholarship Fund (TSF) annual giving program and directed Missouri's $102 million comprehensive Capital Campaign.
Veatch began his professional career in 1995 with the University of Texas, assisting with the development program as well as the external affairs area as a Graduate Assistant while earning his Master's degree in Sports Administration.
Veatch received his bachelor's degree in business administration from K-State in 1995 where he was a four-year letterman for longtime Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder and the Wildcats from 1990-1994 and served as team captain during his senior season. He was a starter on K-State's Copper and Aloha Bowl teams in 1993 and 1994 and earned honorable mention all-conference honors at linebacker in 1994. Veatch also was a two-time CFA Academic All-American, was Academic All-Big 8 four times and was a Hitachi/CFA Scholar-Athlete in 1994.
Laird and his wife Brandy have three daughters, Jordyn (16), Taylor (13), Sydney (11) and one son, Dru (7).
What They're Saying:
Executive Associate Athletics Director for Internal Affairs Laird Veatch:
"As Manhattan natives and K-State graduates, Brandy and I never imagined leaving the place we love so much. It would take an incredibly special opportunity for us to do so, and the chance to join Scott's (Stricklin) administrative team supporting programs that compete at the very highest level in in the Southeastern Conference is just that. During our recent visit to Gainesville, we were so impressed with the people and culture in the Florida program, established by Jeremy Foley and continued under Scott's leadership.
"I will always be grateful to John Currie and our University leadership for the opportunity to return home and develop such meaningful life-long friendships. Gene (Taylor) has been great to our family, and it would have been an honor to remain at K-State and learn from him. He is an excellent fit for K-State, and we look forward to following K-State's continued success under his leadership. We will always be Wildcats, but this is a chance for my family and me to grow in exciting new ways and experience things we never expected. We are excited to get to Florida and begin this new chapter in our lives."
UF Athletic Director: Scott Stricklin
"We could not be more excited to have someone with Laird's skills and background joining our staff. Laird possesses significant relationship building experience and expertise in intercollegiate athletics both on the institutional and private sector sides, and he has a great perspective on what it takes to be successful. He is a great fit and we welcome him and his family into the Gator Nation."
Oklahoma Vice President & Director of Athletics: Joe Castiglione
"When I heard Scott was hiring Laird Veatch, I jumped up from my seat out of pure joy for both of them. A superb administrator, Laird has an array of outstanding skills that will serve him well and truly benefit the Gator Athletics program. As a terrific student-athlete himself, he knows the importance of the connection of his responsibilities to the student-athlete experience. Simply put, Laird Veatch brings a great background, high energy and models integrity, class and character in everything he does. I've known him for many years and the Gator Nation will really enjoy getting to know him, his wife Brandy and the Veatch family."
Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics: John Currie
"It was a privilege to work together with Laird Veatch for almost eight years at K-State. From the moment we hired him back to Manhattan in the fall of 2009, he made everyone around him, including me, better and his servant leadership will serve Scott Stricklin, the University of Florida and indeed the entire SEC family well. Laird's leadership, vision, attention to detail and sense of urgency brought K-State unprecedented academic, athletic, fiscal and facility achievements. And, as a starting linebacker and academic all-conference performer in Coach Snyder's first Wildcat recruiting class, he understands the challenges and opportunities of competing at the highest level and will always have the best interests of Gator student-athletes and coaches at heart."
Kansas State Athletic Director: Gene Taylor
"I have really enjoyed getting to know Laird and Brandy both on a personal and professional level, and they were tremendous in helping our family transition to Manhattan and K-State. Laird has been a Wildcat his entire life and played a major part of this department's success over the years. While I would have loved to see him stay and continue that working relationship, I fully understand that this was an outstanding opportunity for him and his family and one that he could not pass up. We know that Scott (Stricklin) and his staff are getting a great person in Laird and wish him and his family all the best in Gainesville."
Texas Tech Athletic Director: Kirby Hocutt
"I congratulate the University of Florida and Scott Stricklin on a great hire. As a former teammate and one of my closest friends, there is no better man and leader than Laird Veatch. His communication skills and understanding of the operations of an athletic department are exceptional. The Gator staff and family will thoroughly enjoy getting to know Laird, Brandy, Jordyn, Taylor, Sydney and Dru."
Former Missouri Athletic Director: Mike Alden
"I've known Laird Veatch since 1998, where we worked together for several years. During and since that time, I have watched Laird grow as an extremely talented administrator who has made a significant impact everywhere he has been. Laird is a value based servant leader, with a tremendous work ethic. He is the consummate "team player". Laird, Brandy and the Veatch family will be a terrific addition to the great traditions and successes of the University of Florida. I applaud Scott Stricklin in recruiting one of the rising stars in college athletic administration."
Former Texas Athletics Director: DeLoss Dodds
"I have watched Laird since his playing days at Kansas State. We gave him his first job at Texas in our Foundation and he has impressed at every place he has worked. He will be a terrific fit at Florida. He is a great man who is joining a great athletic department."
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