Jeff Fore was announced as the Director of Athletics at Missouri Baptist University on July 10, 2023. He comes to MBU after serving as Director of Athletics & Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Park University Gilbert (Ariz.) since 2019.
 
“My family and I are extremely excited to join the MBU family and the St. Louis community,” Fore said. “I am also very grateful, humbled, and excited to be the next Athletics Director at Missouri Baptist University. I would be remiss if I did not thank Jon Hessel, VP of Student Development, the search committee, and of course, President Ross for giving me this incredible opportunity and for the confidence they have in me to lead this outstanding athletic program.  I have some big shoes to fill and look forward to building on the amazing legacy created over the last 20 years under Dr. Tom Smith.  MBU is a special place, and I look forward to working together with so many talented people in helping our student-athletes on their path to graduation and winning championships.”
 
Fore boasts more than 30 years of experience in coaching, athletics administration, and entrepreneurial business enterprise.
 
As the son and grandson of Baptist preachers, Fore has been blessed to know and understand the love and grace of God from an early age. In 2015, the Rolla, Mo. native completed his master’s degree in Biblical Studies with a concentration in Christian Leadership from Grand Canyon University. At Missouri Baptist, Fore plans to put an specific emphasis on building champions for Christ in the classroom and on the playing field.
 
Fore spent the past two decades in Arizona in various roles. As AD at Park Gilbert, the veteran leader was tasked with starting an athletics program from scratch on a brand-new campus, including developing policy, compliance processes, facilities, fundraising, marketing, and community relations for 15 sports. He helped oversee recruitment and retention initiatives that saw the student-athlete enrollment go from 0 to 374 in just four years.
 
Before his time at Park Gilbert, Fore spent three years as Director of Team Recruiting Solutions and Senior Recruiting Specialist at Next College Student Athlete (NCSA). There, he was a key executive team member and oversaw international athletic recruiting partnerships with NCSA’s Team Edition product.
 
In addition to Park Gilbert, Fore served as Director of Athletics at Mesa Community College from 2008-10. At Mesa CC, Fore increased sponsorship dollars for the athletics department from less than $5,000 annually to an unprecedented $250,000 in the first year. Under his direction, he saw more than $150,000 in athletics capital improvement projects to completion. Fore also helped develop a department-wide summer camp – Thunderbird Sports Academy – that raised scholarship funds. He was also instrumental in securing the Arizona Special Olympics Summer Games to Mesa CC and later to Grand Canyon University.
 
Other athletics administration experience includes a stint as Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Academic Support and Development at Grand Canyon University from 2013-15, Athletic Director and Head Boys Basketball Coach at James Sandoval Preparatory High School, and Assistant AD, Head Basketball Coach, Head Golf Coach, and Head Baseball Coach at Clarke University from 1993-96.
 
Fore’s resume features 20+ years of coaching experience, which began at his alma mater Arkansas State University. Other notable stops included Central Missouri State (now University of Central Missouri), Kuwait Sporting Club, Kuwait Basketball Association, Arizona Rhinos Professional Basketball Club, Sandra Day O’Connor High School, and Park Gilbert. Fore has over 300 coaching wins, two high school state championships, six international gold medals, two silvers, and four bronze medals on the hardwood.
 
Fore, a former NCAA basketball student-athlete at the University of Missouri-Rolla (Missouri S&T), graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Arkansas State University (1991). He also received a Post-Baccalaureate in Secondary Education from Rio Salado College (2005) and a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Christian Leadership from Grand Canyon University in 2015.
 
Fore is married to his wife, Shannon, and has five children: Cameron, Justin, Zachary, Preston, and Addison.