The 2015 offseason just keeps on churning out headlines for the Missouri Tigers football program. The latest is the hiring of yet another defensive mind to direct an important group of players from the sidelines.
Last week it was announced that Ryan Walters would be joining the Mizzou staff as safeties coach. Walters, 29, has spent the last two years coaching the cornerbacks at Memphis, under the also newly hired defensive coordinator Bary Odom.
Walters and Odom reunite after being a huge part of the effort to lead Memphis to a 10-3 season in 2014, ranking 22nd nationally in overall defense and 5th in the country in points allowed.
Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel has a lot of work ahead of him in 2015. But if last year was any indication, Mizzou will be contenders. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
“I’ve known him for a while now, and had the chance to work together last year and he made a big impression on me,” Odom said via a press release from MU’s athletic department. “He’s a loyal and tireless worker who I see as a great technician and fundamentals coach. He was very sought after this past season, so we’re excited to recruit him to Mizzou.”
Walters has had a quick rise up the college football coaches ranks, debuting on the sideline in 2009 at Colorado as an assistant and working his way to the defensive backs coaches. After spending time on the Oklahoma sidelines he went on to coach North Texas’ secondary, helping UNT to a 9-4 record, and a Conference-USA championship. That season, the Mean Green ranked 17th in total defense and more impressively 4th in turnovers gained and 8th in points allowed.
“We’re looking forward to having Ryan join our staff; he is a really impressive young coach who has a well-respected reputation in the coaching industry,” said head coach Gary Pinkel. “He’s had proven success everywhere he’s been and we believe he’s going to do a great job with teaching and leading our safeties,” he said.
So despite his youth, it would seem, Walters comes with a very stout résumé and some pretty big accomplishments under his belt already.
So, as we’ve mentioned previously, Mizzou is in a flux right now in terms of its personnel. While it isn’t as much of a shake up as it is just moving parts, we’ve watched an eventful offseason unfold in Columbia.
The defense, in particular, has seen more turnover than a bakery in recent months. But this isn’t a bad thing. It’s nothing like a rebuilding that many experts have said the Missouri Tigers faced during each of the past few seasons.
Missouri Tigers
Think of it as a renovation.
This move in particular makes a lot of sense. We’ve argued it in the past and it still holds up. Those who are in significant coaching roles, like Odom, like to work with people they’re familiar with. And there’s good reasoning behind it. We, as humans, instinctively work better in environments we’re accustomed to and with other humans that we have been surrounded by in the past. So to take things in a slightly scientific– if existential– the point is, Walters is another great hire by the University.
Like Odom mentioned earlier, Walters was a hot commodity. Mizzou fans should applaud the the program is doing bringing in the right guys for the job.
Considering that just a couple of months ago we were all panicking because of Dave Steckel’s departure, this has been quite the turnaround. And it’s a welcome plethora of quality coaching moves for the Missouri Tigers. Along with the fantastic recruiting class— especially on the defensive side– Mizzou fans can only be more excited about the defense and the 2015 season as we climb through the dog days of summer.
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