The Missouri Tigers football season may have ended on New Year’s Day with a Citrus Bowl win over Minnesota. But that was just the beginning to a very active start to the year 2015.
Yes, Mizzou has had a busy January. So, let’s get up to speed. Here’s everything that has happened to the MU football program since the last snap of the bowl game until now, in what has been an eventful start to 2015.
Dave Steckel had a remarkably successful tenure as the Missouri Tigers defensive coordinator. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive Coordinator Dave Steckel Departs
While we knew this was coming before Mizzou entered its bowl game—in which Steckel did coach in—it became official after the game’s final whistle. The man credited with much of the Tigers’ success on the football field in recent years saw an opportunity to be a head coach and took it. Steckel headed off to Springfield to take the helm at Missouri State. This move confused many, as it was almost considered a step backwards, going from pseudo-‘next-in-line’ in Columbia, to the head coach of an FCS school. Perhaps it will pan out. But for now? Perplexing.
Mizzou Quickly Hires Barry Odom
The Missouri Tigers didn’t waste time finding Steckel’s replacement. They went right on and snagged Barry Odom away from Memphis to fill his shoes. Odom, a former Mizzou player, returned to his former stomping grounds in Columbia to continue an already successful coaching career. The 38-year-old is quite possibly a heir to the throne. He already has a bowl win under his belt as a head coach.
Tigers Sign Key Recruits
Sandwiched in between all of these coaching changes was a big day for recruitment signings. Mizzou hauled in wide receiver Jonathan Johnson out of Memphis, Tennessee, Franklin Agbasimere, a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end from Montverde, Florida, and Dublin, Georgia native, Justin Smith, another wide receiver. These names will likely be heard over the years as we know Gary Pinkel has a knack for getting his younger players developed by getting them in games.
Linebackers Coach Alex Grinch Departs For D.C. Job
Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel has been busy so far in 2015. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
In yet another crazy, unexpected move, an additional key component to the Tiger coaching staff suddenly announced he was heading to the Pacific Northwest. Alex Grinch had spent the last six seasons as the linebackers coach for the Tigers and had put his name in the hat for the Tigers’ vacated defensive coordinator spot. When the Tigers went with Odom, it appears Grinch began exploring other options. This stayed under the radar until it was announced. He got what he wanted. A defensive coordinator role at Washington State.
Former Tiger Defensive Lineman Phil Pitts Joins Staff
This may be one of the most underrated moves from Mizzou’s offseason. When the Tigers coaching staff was needing to add a defensive analyst to the staff, they turned to Phil Pitts, who played in the black and gold from 2001-2004, back in the early goings of head coach Gary Pinkel’s tenure.
The signing comes on the heals of the defensive staff shake up, but it is possible that this is actually a future-focused move. Pitts jumped from the high school ranks where he was a very successful coach in Jefferson City. I wouldn’t be surprised if this wasn’t a move with the idea of working up to a more prominent role—like say a defensive coordinator type of position.
Tigers Haul In Big Time Recruits
Missouri Tigers
Mizzou’s eye on the future continued—this time on the field. The Missouri Tigers received verbal commitments from wide receiver Brandon Martin, and defensive end Tyrell Jacobs to round out a week where the Tigers brought in 6 key recruits. Missouri has not shied away from addressing their very obvious need for both wide receiver and defensive end help with this year’s recruiting class.
They’ve put almost all of the focus on getting these positions filled. Don’t be surprised if some of these guys see playing time sooner rather than later.
Defensive Line Coach, Craig Kuligowski, Nearly Bolts Mizzou For Illinois
It’s strange how one event can have such a domino effect on a score of others as a college football off-season gets started. That’s what happened when Steckel took off. Yet another repercussion, this time with Kuligowski, who flirted with the idea of heading a state over to Illinois to be U of I’s defensive coordinator.
This became an issue again because Kuligowski had tried out to take Steckel’s place as Mizzou’s defensive coordinator. Thankfully, Missouri was able to hold on to this vital coach who has led an extremely successful defensive line which has been monumental in the team’s success.
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