Leading up to Patrick Ransdell’s introduction as Missouri State’s next athletic director, Bears cheerleaders welcomed attendees at the door as music blared in the student union’s auditorium.
Cheerleaders danced on the main floor as the band readied to play around them. Student-athletes, coaches and community members gathered for not only the introduction of its new leader but a celebration of the athletic program’s future.
New Missouri State President Dr. Richard “Biff” Williams had his hands all over coordinating the event. Cheerleaders threw confetti up into the sky as the school fight song rang when he introduced Ransdell as his AD.
“We want to create high energy,” Williams said. “This is a new day. We wanted to show this isn’t the just same ol’ same ol.”
The optimism in Missouri State athletics felt as if it was at an all-time high when Ransdell took the stage. He spoke of his past experiences that prepared him to take on Missouri State’s many upcoming challenges and what he believes the program can be.
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“When people asked ‘Why are you thinking about Missouri State?’, this is exactly what I was thinking about,” Ransdell said. “The energy and passion couldn’t be better than this situation right here. It is a great day to be a Bear.”
Missouri State AD Patrick Ransdell spoke about his experience at App State, Central Florida
Ransdell’s résumé includes 20 years of experience with stops at Ole Miss, Coastal Carolina, North Carolina Wilmington, Miami (Ohio), Central Florida and, most recently, as the Deputy Athletics Director at Appalachian State.
His achievements include a long list of record-breaking fundraising and attendance numbers. His father Dr. Gary Ransdell was the president at Western Kentucky for 20 years. The youngest Ransdell played baseball and graduated from WKU.
Ransdell has been through getting a school prepared to move conferences before and he will be tasked with leading a successful transition when Missouri State joins Conference USA and the FBS ranks next year.
“I know exactly what it means to be in tune with the mission of an institution of higher education,” Ransdell said. “I’m also a product of student-athlete experience. I believe there isn’t a better way to better prepare you for the real world than participating in athletics. Discipline, teamwork, work ethic and it teaches you the groundwork for a long, successful career. That experience has turned me into who I am today and where I’m at today.”
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Missouri State AD Patrick Ransdell talked about winning ‘many, many championships’
Ransdell spoke about the “student” in “student-athlete” and the importance of giving them the best experience possible at Missouri State. He and Williams spoke about wanting to build an environment where athletes don’t want to enter the transfer portal and coaches want to stay for the long haul.
Ransdell also spoke about winning championships, or in his words, “many, many championships.”
“We will be closely working with our staffs to make sure that we put our student-athletes in a position to win championships. Plural. With an s,” Ransdell said. “Many, many championships.”
His declaration didn’t promise immediate bowl games but said the goal is to get Missouri State to where it plays postseason football year after year. In other sports, Ransdell anticipates immediate championship contention, noting Great Southern Bank Arena’s place among the basketball programs in Conference USA and the capable staffs led by Cuonzo Martin and Beth Cunningham.
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Patrick Ransdell promised he will engage with the Missouri State, Springfield community
The biggest complaint of Ransdell’s predecessor was how much he engaged with the Springfield community. It was high on Williams’ list to find someone who would be engaging on the external side of building an athletics program while also being one with the fanbase and everyone who touches the athletics program.
Ransdell promised he would engage with the community plenty. He introduced his family who will move to the area in the coming months and will be along for the ride.
In addition to being an athletic director who will shake everyone’s hand, Ransdell promised to be engaged in the corporate world as well. He sees plenty of money that Missouri State hasn’t been making in that area. He believes everyone should want to be on board with Missouri State’s future.
“From my conversations with President Williams, we’re focused on being as inviting and engaging our community like never before,” Ransdell said. “He speaks on the importance of community and I completely agree. We would like everyone in our community to embrace being involved in the jurisdiction. Our doors are open. I invite all 180,000 people who live in Springfield and hundreds of thousands in this area to come to a game, buy a ticket and donate to the Bears and support this great institution and its athletic department.”
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Publish date : 2024-08-30 08:05:00
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