The University of Missouri System Board of Curators has approved an amended contract for Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel that will keep him patrolling the Mizzou sideline through Dec. 31, 2020. With the new agreement, Pinkel’s guaranteed salary will increase to $3.1 million, up from $2.8 million, while his assistant coaching staff will receive an increase in their salary pool to $3.2 million, up from the previous amount of $2.66 million.
In 2013, Pinkel directed one of the greatest seasons in Mizzou history, as his Tigers went 12-2 and won the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title (his fourth division title in the past seven years), reaching the SEC Championship Game in the program’s second year in the league. Mizzou would go on to win the 2014 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, and finish with a final ranking of fifth – the second-highest finish to a season by any Tiger team.
The Cotton Bowl victory was also historic, as it made Pinkel the winningest coach in Mizzou history. With a record of 102-63 in 13 seasons here, Pinkel passed legendary coach Don Faurot, who went 101-79-10 in 19 seasons at MU from 1935-42 and 1946-56. Pinkel’s overall career record as a head coach sits at 175-100-3 in 23 seasons.
Since 2007, Mizzou is the only program in the country to rank in the top-10 nationally in wins, while also ranking in the top-five in both Academic Progress Rate, as well as first-round NFL draft picks. Mizzou Athletics is currently in the midst of a $200 million facilities improvement process – largely related to football – as a sign of its commitment to competing in the SEC and on the national level.
Mizzou’s football program led the SEC in APR in the most recent report, and 95 of the last 97 players who have exhausted their eligibility since 2008 have gone on to earn their degrees from MU.
“It is important for us to be able to recognize what Gary and his staff have achieved for the University of Missouri,” said Director of Athletics Mike Alden. “We’re very grateful to the Board of Curators and University leadership for their support of our program, which is among the best in the nation both academically and competitively,” he said.
“I’m very honored and proud to be the coach at Mizzou, and I appreciate the opportunity,” said Pinkel. “We will work very hard to continue to build our program and to graduate our players. It’s important for our program to keep moving forward and build on a solid foundation. I’m pleased that my assistant coaches continue to get recognized for the work they do. We are fortunate to have a great staff at Mizzou,” he said.
In the past fiscal year (FY13), the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, which is self-funded, reimbursed the campus $13.6 million for: student-athlete tuition, fees, room and board, as well as campus services such as security, parking, and utilities. In fiscal year 2016, Athletics will contribute an additional $500,000 annually to the Chancellor’s Fund for Excellence, which is used to enhance academic opportunities on campus. The amount of this contribution may vary in future years based on the success of Athletic programs and increasing revenues.
— MU Sports Information —