COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom has promoted Mizzou alum A.J. Ofodile to the position of assistant coach, as announced today. Ofodile, who has served the past two seasons on Odom’s staff in the crucial role of director of recruiting operations, will shift to an on-field role with his alma mater as the program’s 10th assistant. Details of Ofodile’s contract will be released once fully executed, along with his duties.

“A.J. has been a very vital member of our staff the past two years,” said Odom. “I’ve leaned on his input in a lot of areas, and he’s constantly made our program better. He’s a loyal guy who cares about our kids and making Mizzou the best it can be. I’m excited to have him on board with our coaching staff, and am looking forward to how he can help us improve. His career as a player at the college and NFL levels will be very valuable as well as his previous coaching experience. The past two years overseeing our recruiting department has provided great results for us on the field, and he will certainly continue those efforts in his new role,” he said.

The past two recruiting cycles have produced outstanding results for Mizzou under Ofodile’s direction. The most recent class of 2018, while not yet finished, already ranks 36th nationally according to Rivals.com. Prior to that, the 2017 class ranked 49th nationally according to Rivals.com, but immediately paid big dividends with several instant-impact performers who helped Mizzou to a seven-win season and first bowl game since 2014 this past year. Fifteen members of the 25-man 2017 class saw the field in their first year with the program, including four who started during the course of the season, including DT Rashad Brandon, OL Yasir Durant, DB Adam Sparks and DB Jordan Ulmer.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to continue to contribute to the success and growth of this program,” said Ofodile. We have outstanding young men who believe in Coach Odom’s vision for their program and it is exciting to have the opportunity to work with our kids more directly going forward. The future of Mizzou Football is very bright and I’m excited to take on a new role and contribute to its success wherever I’m asked.”

Ofodile, 44, joined Odom’s staff at MU in May of 2016, following a successful stint as head football coach at Columbia’s Rock Bridge High School, from 2003-2015. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for Odom at Rock Bridge during Odom’s head coaching stint there from 2001-02. After Odom joined Mizzou’s coaching staff prior to the 2003 season, Ofodile took over as head coach. In 2013, his Bruins were state runners up, reaching the state championship game for the first time since 1993.

A first-team All-Big Eight selection as a tight end in 1993 for Mizzou, Ofodile was a three-year letterwinner (1991-93), and finished his Tiger career with 73 receptions for 851 yards and six touchdowns. After an outstanding 1993 season which included 55 catches for 589 yards and four scores, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 1994 NFL Draft by Buffalo, and went on to spend six years in the league with Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Baltimore through 1999.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Sophie Cunningham had every reason to believe No. 15 Missouri could knock off fourth-ranked and defending national champion South Carolina.

Her signature moment last season came when she hit a last-second shot in the Tigers’ win over the Gamecocks. She was too much for South Carolina to handle again on Sunday, scoring 27 points to lead Missouri to an 83-74 victory.

“Our mentality going in was that we’re winning this game,” said Cunningham, who had seven assists and six rebounds. “Everyone from top to bottom knew we were going to.”

Cunningham, who suffered a right knee sprain last week and sat out Missouri’s loss to LSU on Thursday, returned with a knee brace but showed no ill effects.

The 6-foot-1 guard made 9 of 10 shots, including a scoop that she launched from below her waist and an over-the-shoulder prayer over 6-foot-5 A’ja Wilson.

“They’re going in, so I’m not going to complain,” Cunningham said.

Amber Smith had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Cierra Porter added 11 points for the Tigers (14-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference). Tyasha Harris and Bianca Jackson each scored 14 for the Gamecocks (13-2, 2-1).

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was ejected after drawing her second technical foul with 2:55 left and Missouri leading 69-60.

Staley was particularly upset that Wilson, the SEC’s leading scorer, fouled out after just 19 minutes. Wilson finished with eight points, the first time she has scored fewer than 16 this season.

Staley said a player of Wilson’s caliber ought to get the benefit of the doubt from officials.

“I’ve never seen anybody play half a game like A’ja Wilson played today,” Staley said. “Never seen it.”

Missouri Coach Robin Pingeton credited her defense with Wilson’s short day.

“We’re always frustrated as coaches with different calls in the flow of the game, but I’m going to give our kids a lot of credit. I just am,” Pingeton said. “I thought our kids did a great job following the game plan and really clogging it up and making it tough to move in the paint.”

Missouri’s emphasis on Wilson gave South Carolina some open looks from 3-point range, but the Gamecocks made just 6 of 18 from beyond the arc. The Tigers shot 56.3 percent from the field and 61.5 percent on 3-pointers.

Cunningham sometimes gets under the skin of opposing players with her physical play, and Sunday was no exception.

“Everybody’s going to say she’s a dirty player, but from my standpoint, she’s a gritty, tough-nosed kid,” Smith said. “She works me every day in practice, and if I’m not working hard enough, she’s going to let me know.”

Staley hopes her team will react to the loss the same way it did last season.

“Last year when they beat us, we went on to win a national championship,” she said. “Maybe this is a prelude to that.”

BIG PICTURE

South Carolina: Staley said she texted Sally Bell, the SEC coordinator of women’s basketball officials, before the game to complain that two of the officials — Metta Roberts and Luis Gonzalez — worked last year’s game at Missouri, when she was also upset about the whistles.

“I don’t know if that’s just coincidental,” Staley said. “That’s what she said it was. You’ve got to do better. I’m not saying they’re the reason why (South Carolina lost), but you’ve got to do better when you’re coordinating officials and games.”

Missouri: Last season, Pingeton used the 5-foot-11 Smith as a power forward. This year, Smith is playing guard, but she hasn’t lost her knack for rebounding.

The sophomore is developing into an offensive threat in SEC play, averaging 18.3 points in conference games.

“She’s an all-in kid, whatever it takes for our team,” Pingeton said. “Early in the season, there was an adjustment. She went from playing with her back to basket to a stretch-four to our off guard. That’s a pretty big change, having the ball in your hands coming off ball screens instead of setting the screens. She’s an incredible kid, incredible teammate.”

UP NEXT

South Carolina hosts Auburn on Thursday.

Missouri visits Vanderbilt on Thursday.

— Associated Press —

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — On the game’s decisive play, Florida’s Chris Chiozza was assigned to guard Jordan Barnett, who was standing in front of the Missouri bench. But when a soft pass from the opposite wing was directed toward Kassius Robertson at the top of the key, Chiozza sprang into action.

The senior guard stepped in to steal the pass from Jordan Geist and then coasted to the other end for a layup just before the buzzer to the give the Gators a 77-75 victory Saturday at Mizzou Arena.

“I wasn’t really anywhere near the play,” Chiozza said. “I just jumped it.”

Florida coach Mike White was asked if he had ever coached a game with a finish that wild. White initially didn’t think so, then recalled last season’s NCAA Tournament regional semifinal against Wisconsin, when Chiozza hit a running 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer to lift the Gators to an 84-83 victory.

“Very, very similar, with the same guy,” White said. “He’s really smart. He’s an extremely quick thinker. He’s got extremely quick feet. He’s fast. He understands the game. He’s an older guard. He just happened to sniff it out. It was a gamble that paid off.”

The Gators (11-4, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) trailed by 12 points in the first half before rallying to take a 36-35 halftime lead. The Tigers (11-4, 1-1) rebuilt their lead in the second half, opening a 70-62 advantage with 6:31 remaining when Jeremiah Tilmon beat the shot clock with a turnaround jumper off an inbounds play.

Florida again came back and tied it at 75 with 22.2 seconds left when Jalen Hudson made two of three free throws after he drew a foul from Robertson on a 3-point attempt. Robertson protested the foul call, which was one of a few in the second half that drew a rise out of Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin and the home crowd. After the game, Martin seemed particularly upset about freshman forward Tilmon fouling out in only eight minutes of action.

“I guess I have to keep my mouth closed,” Martin said. “I don’t want to say anything. But very, very tough for me. Very tough for me — you know what I’m saying. It was one of the toughest ones I’ve ever been a part of.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to let Jeremiah Tilmon play basketball. He’s a 19-year-old kid doing the things we ask him to do. It has to carry over. Let’s hope he doesn’t get a reputation, because he’s doing the right things and he plays hard. It is what it is, but leave it on the floor and let them play the game.”

Hudson led Florida with 16 points, Egor Koulechov added 15 and Chiozza and Keith Stone each scored 13.

Barnett led Missouri with 28 points, and Robertson added 12. Jontay Porter, also saddled with foul trouble most of the game, finished with nine points, seven rebounds and six assists.

After Hudson’s tying free throws, Missouri called timeout with 17.4 seconds left. Geist dribbled the clock down before his fateful pass. After Chiozza stole the ball, he took one glance at the clock and saw three seconds remaining.

“I knew I had plenty of time left,” Chiozza said. “I wanted to slow down to make sure I didn’t trip or anything.”

BIG PICTURE

Florida: After a spotty non-conference season, the Gators have started SEC play well, with back-to-back road wins over quality opponents. Florida beat 11th-ranked Texas A&M 83-66 on Tuesday.

“Early in the season, I thought we were a very soft team,” White said. “I wouldn’t call us soft now, but I wouldn’t call us overly tough either. It’s a process for us. After a certain amount of time, our guys embraced the fact we had some deficiencies.”

Missouri: On Friday, Blake Harris announced his plans to transfer. Harris had started nine games and was part of a three-player point guard rotation. His departure marked the second freshman point guard to leave the program this season, after C.J. Roberts did the same. Martin said he was happy with the play of Geist and Terrence Phillips at the point against Florida.

“We average 15, and we had 11 turnovers,” Martin said. “They played well. Terrence has to play a little tougher defensively, but I thought they did a good job.”

OLD AND IMPROVED

Barnett is a senior, but he hadn’t shown much during his previous years at Texas or Missouri to suggest the star he has become this season. White called Barnett, who is averaging 15.9 points, the most improved player in the SEC.

“I don’t remember a guy making this big of a jump in one year,” White said. “This guy was a good player last year, and he is terrific. He can sprint into 3s, he elevates, he has a high release, he has a quick release. He’s a 6-7 catch-and-shoot guy. He’s a really good cutter. He’s an offensive rebounder. We didn’t do a really good job on him, but he’s going to have a few of those games. He’s already had a few.”

UP NEXT

Florida will aim for its fourth straight SEC victory when it plays at home against Mississippi State on Wednesday.

Missouri will host Georgia on Wednesday.

— Associated Press —