COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nick Garner has been appointed general manager for Learfield Sports’ Mizzou Sports Properties, the University of Missouri’s long-time exclusive athletics multimedia rights holder.

Photo (final)Garner has been with Learfield Sports since 2007, most recently serving six years as general manager for Learfield’s Grizzly Sports Properties team at University of Montana. Before that, he served three years as an account executive with Sooner Sports Properties, Learfield’s team dedicated to University of Oklahoma Athletics. He also gained valuable collegiate sports marketing experience working inside Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla.; University of Houston and Wichita State University, where he earned his master’s degree in sport administration.

“We are excited to add Nick Garner to the Mizzou family,” Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades said. “Learfield Sports and Mizzou Sports Properties have been great partners of Mizzou Athletics for many years and we look forward to continuing our strong relationship under Nick’s leadership.”

Bob-WelchBob Welch, Garner’s predecessor, will be moving from Columbia to Chicago with his promotion to vice president, overseeing Learfield’s collegiate properties in the Central Region.

Garner now will lead all aspects of the extensive rights relationship between Learfield Sports and Mizzou Athletics, which includes signage, sponsorships, corporate hospitality, event marketing, play-by-play radio, television and radio coaches’ shows, and digital opportunities via MUTigers.com. Additionally, he will work alongside Rhoades and the university athletic department to align initiatives in building the Tigers’ brand locally, regionally and nationally.

“Nick will do an incredible job leading our Mizzou Sports Properties team,” said Learfield Vice President David Hubbard. “He is well versed in this industry and our company, and we know he’ll be a tremendous asset right away, continuing to build on what Bob has established the last three years.”

Mizzou is one of 120 collegiate properties represented by Learfield Sports. The company’s rich history includes over four decades of developing trusted, long-term relationships with some of the most revered institutions and associations in the world of college sports. Learfield has prominence in all of the major conferences and titles the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. It also offers its partners professional concessions and ticket sales; licensing and trademark consulting; digital platform expertise; and venue signage and technology systems through its owned companies. To learn more about its history, businesses and job opportunities, visit www.learfieldsports.com.