Inductees

Thumb through the 1997 Mizzou football media guide and there, on Page 187, you’ll run across a black-and-white photo of then-athletic director Joe Castiglione.

It’s vintage Castiglione. He’s walking through a renovation project of Memorial Stadium – which was actually one project idea of many that ultimately came to fruition.

“We have a vision of championship-caliber athletic programs that bring national prominence to MU,” Castiglione was quoted as saying in the media guide. “To realize the vision, MU must provide great academics, top-notch facilities and outstanding coaching to attract the best and brightest student-athletes.”

Castiglione certainly raised the bar as the University of Missouri’s athletic director from 1994-1998, part of 17 years on campus. Thus, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to induct Castiglione among the Class of 2015.

In his tenure, he was credited with rebuilding sports programs, hiring outstanding coaches, implementing an innovative master plan for facilities, inspiring record-setting increases in fund-raising and balancing the budget.

“I always say that I was born and raised in South Florida but I really grew up in Columbia, Missouri,” Castiglione said. “It’s like a second hometown. I developed life-long relationships. I met my wife there, my oldest son was born there and I was fortunate to live out a dream of becoming the athletics director at the University of Missouri. How can I say anything but my life experiences at Mizzou were literally transformative?”

The Memorial Stadium project was a $12 million effort, and came at a time when Castiglione had won approval from the Board of Curators on designs for a new basketball arena. Additionally, Castiglione had unveiled an ambitious, $85 million plan to create The Sports Park at MU.

The Sports Park is now reality: athletic facilities just south of Stadium Boulevard and flanking Providence Road. It was centered on an indoor practice facility and a track and soccer stadium.

Without question, it was the most aggressive effort since the days of AD Chester A. Brewer in the 1920s and 1930s.

“Today, even more commitment is needed to become a championship-caliber university, especially with increased competition from Big 12 schools for that rare breed of student-athlete,” Castiglione said at the time. “They want to see a tangible commitment to winning.  The Sports Park at MU is that commitment.”

Castiglione’s success was anticipated. He arrived in 1981 as Mizzou’s director of communications and, from there, held roles as director of sports media/marketing; assistant director of athletics; and associate director of athletics.

Much of the credit for the accomplishments of AD Dan Devine’s second tenure went to Castiglione, who was his associate AD. Castiglione’s day-to-day leadership within the department freed Devine to perform the public relations and fund-raising tasks required away from his Hearnes Center office.

Castiglione implemented a roll-up-your-sleeves management style and hired head coaches in five sports.

Under Castiglione’s watch: women’s soccer was added; a sales/sponsorship concept involving Learfield Communications and ISP Sports helped increase the revenue stream; the Tiger Radio Network was strengthened in St. Louis; the Varsity M Association corralled former letterwinners as a support group for current student-athletes.

And that’s only a glimpse of Castiglione’s success.

The Memorial Stadium renovation included the installation of lights and a new grass surface. That came a year after the football team’s first winning season in 14 years.

“Joe has done a terrific job for the University of Missouri,” Fred Hall, a university system curator, said at the time. “I was afraid we couldn’t hold him.”

Castiglione, a 1979 graduate of the University of Maryland, is married to the former Kristen Bartel, a 1990 Mizzou graduate. They are parents to sons Joseph Robert Jr. and Jonathan Edmund.

Since the summer of 1998, Castiglione has served as athletic director of the University of Oklahoma with much success.

“The true credit for this incredible but mostly humbling recognition should be directed toward those who believed enough in me,” Castiglione said, “to first afford me the chance to be a Missouri Tiger and then give me the opportunity to work with gifted student-athletes, future Hall of Fame coaches, dedicated staff members, generous donors, passionate fans and a supportive university administration — all of whom shared a dream for success.”

Castiglione added this:

“Through the fulfillment of my responsibilities, I dedicated myself to adding value to their lives but, in the process, they added much more to mine,” Castiglione said. “This honor is for them and is a reflection of all of their success. I’m truly grateful for my memorable years as a Tiger and a Missourian.”