COLUMBIA - Mike Alden is at the top of his profession.
The Missouri director of athletics has been selected as the 2013-14 president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, it was announced Thursday.
The announcement comes one year after Alden and campus administration led Missouri into the Southeastern Conference.
"We look forward to having Mike Alden serve as our president in 2013-14 and anticipate his leadership in enhancing NACDA's ever expanding role in intercollegiate athletics," NACDA executive director Bob Vecchione said in a release.
Said Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive: "I've known Mike for a very long time and have enjoyed watching his career and all he has accomplished. In his role as president of NACDA, he will bring energy, passion and commitment to the membership, and the organization will certainly benefit."
Alden is set to begin his 16th season at the helm of Missouri athletics.
Missouri ranked among SEC leaders in both Graduation Success Rates and Academic Progress Rates for the 2012-13 academic year. As far as on-field performance goes, 14 of Missouri's 20 programs reached postseason play.
"Mike has been an outstanding leader for Mizzou's athletic program for many years, and we are very proud to see him contribute his exceptional skills at the national level," University of Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton said of Alden's appointment.
NACDA, now in its 49th year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,200 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers 13 professional associations, including seven for the separate business units that report directly to the athletics directors.