Dec. 4, 2015
New MU Football Head Coach: #MizzouMade
by THS Media Kevin Losch
The University of Missouri has a new face as the head of their football program after a tragic occurrence with their former head coach Gary Pinkel.
Pinkel, after coaching for 15 years at Mizzou, has decided to retire due to his health. Pinkel had recently been diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer that weakens the immune system. This year, in his final season, his Tigers went 5-7 overall and 1-7 in conference play. Mizzou faced the Arkansas Razorbacks in Pinkel’s final game as coach. The game had an ugly turn out for the Tigers. They lost the game 28-3 bringing an end to their season |
“I take responsibility for the game. I didn’t want it to end like this, but what a ride for me to be able to be a part of this program,” Pinkel said.
After suffering the loss of head coach Pinkel the Tigers were on the search to find who would be the new “captain of the ship,” for Mizzou.
Missouri looked towards the former defensive coordinator, Barry Odom and they found their man for the job. Odom had attended the University of Missouri as a former student athlete who has now came back and risen to the top of the football program.
"Mizzou means the world to me and to my family, and we couldn't be more proud and excited to be in this position," Odom said.
Mizzou is hopeful with their new coach after he has made Missouri’s defense one of the top defenses in the nation in past years.
He first served as a director of football recruiting's for the Tigers back in 2004. In 2009, he became the safeties coach for Mizzou which started his career as a defensive coach where he stayed until 2011. From 2012 to 2014 he went to the University of Memphis, where he was a defensive coordinator. He came back to Mizzou in 2015 and served as the defensive coordinator.
Odom is now the head coach for Missouri where he will command the Tigers in the 2016 season.
“I'm tremendously honored to have this opportunity," Odom said. "It's something I've thought about for a long time as I've made my various stops leading up to this point. I understand the responsibility we have to not only carry on the tradition of excellence that Gary Pinkel has built here, but also to help this program reach new heights.”
The Mizzou tradition is not an easy feat to uphold but Odom and the Tigers are eager to see what their future has in store for the program and university.
After suffering the loss of head coach Pinkel the Tigers were on the search to find who would be the new “captain of the ship,” for Mizzou.
Missouri looked towards the former defensive coordinator, Barry Odom and they found their man for the job. Odom had attended the University of Missouri as a former student athlete who has now came back and risen to the top of the football program.
"Mizzou means the world to me and to my family, and we couldn't be more proud and excited to be in this position," Odom said.
Mizzou is hopeful with their new coach after he has made Missouri’s defense one of the top defenses in the nation in past years.
He first served as a director of football recruiting's for the Tigers back in 2004. In 2009, he became the safeties coach for Mizzou which started his career as a defensive coach where he stayed until 2011. From 2012 to 2014 he went to the University of Memphis, where he was a defensive coordinator. He came back to Mizzou in 2015 and served as the defensive coordinator.
Odom is now the head coach for Missouri where he will command the Tigers in the 2016 season.
“I'm tremendously honored to have this opportunity," Odom said. "It's something I've thought about for a long time as I've made my various stops leading up to this point. I understand the responsibility we have to not only carry on the tradition of excellence that Gary Pinkel has built here, but also to help this program reach new heights.”
The Mizzou tradition is not an easy feat to uphold but Odom and the Tigers are eager to see what their future has in store for the program and university.