Missouri: a football coaching history

Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.

2020–now

Eli Drinkwitz Steady

Eli Drinkwitz moved Missouri from National Program I to Power Program III in 7 seasons.

No outlier style signal this stint

+3.6 pts over 7 seasons · top 43% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Gary Darnell’s Western Michigan run (1997–2004)

5th-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Barry Odom (2016–2019).

System Shift, on arrival

Season	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
Record & result
Record	5-5	6-7	6-7	11-2	10-3	8-5	6-2
Postseason	—	L bowl	L bowl	W bowl	W bowl	L bowl	—
Recruiting rank	#50	#27	#15	#34	#20	#20	#34
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	50.9	49.5	44.2	43.1	43.9	39.4	46.8
Coordinators
OC	—	—	—	Kirby Moore	Kirby Moore	Kirby Moore	Chip Lindsey
DC	Ryan Walters	Steve Wilks	Blake Baker / D. J. Smith	Blake Baker / D. J. Smith	Corey Batoon / D. J. Smith	Corey Batoon	Corey Batoon
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	53	58	48	85	51	39	64
Defense	13	14	61	93	71	90	78
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	41.3	44.4	38.0	40.0	45.6	37.1	36.0
Red-zone pass%	22.7	40.0	27.4	30.3	27.1	32.2	31.3
4th-down go%opp. territory	35.5	23.7	29.8	22.5	20.9	39.5	25.0

Recruiter or developer?

Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.

Offense vs. talent

-2.6 pts

#124 of 208 · middle half

Defense vs. talent

-0.6 pts

#109 of 208 · middle half

Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.

Roster construction · portal era

A typical amount of portal roster-building.

Portal arrivals

3.2★ avg rating

Portal departures

128

left via the portal

Net portal flow

-36

#71 of 187 FBS stints

Notable portal arrivals with a modeled NIL value

Ahmad Hardy On3 modeled · $1,000,000Beau Pribula On3 modeled · $1,500,000Austin Simmons On3 modeled · $2,000,000Cayden Lee On3 modeled · $1,000,000Cayden Green On3 modeled · $1,000,000Damon Wilson II On3 modeled · $2,000,000

On3’s modeled estimate (social reach / exposure), not money actually paid — shown per player, never totaled.

Who they bring in

Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.

A typical class-year mix of incoming transfers.

Avg. size (raw)

6′2″, 240 lbs

across 76 of 92 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix

Size vs. position-typical

+3.3 lbs

#152 of 255 · middle half

Avg. class year

#165 of 255 · middle half

Top states: FL (13), GA (12), TX (11), MO (9), CA (4)

Who won the portal our read

Talent added

63.0

position-weighted

Talent lost

62.4

position-weighted

Net

+0.5

arrivals minus departures

Best addition: Austin Simmons (QB) from Ole Miss

Biggest loss: Tyler Macon (QB) to Alcorn State

Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.

Does the system survive a coordinator change?

OC: Kirby Moore → Chip Lindsey · 2026

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 37.1% → 36.0% (-1.1 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 42% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

DC: Ryan Walters (co) → Steve Wilks · 2021

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

DC: Steve Wilks → Blake Baker / D. J. Smith (co) · 2022

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

DC: Blake Baker / D. J. Smith (co) → Corey Batoon / D. J. Smith (co) · 2024

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

DC: Corey Batoon / D. J. Smith (co) → Corey Batoon · 2025

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

Roster size, by position

Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)

Quarterback

212 lbs

6′2″ avg · #412 of 767 · middle half

Running back

206 lbs

5′10″ avg · #443 of 791 · middle half

Wide receiver

195 lbs

6′0″ avg · #301 of 791 · middle half

Tight end

252 lbs

6′5″ avg · #140 of 731 · top quarter

Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters

Interior line

315 lbs

6′5″ avg · #167 of 779 · top quarter

D-line

293 lbs

6′3″ avg · #195 of 753 · middle half

Linebacker

228 lbs

6′1″ avg · #410 of 772 · middle half

Cornerback

187 lbs

6′1″ avg · #552 of 771 · middle half

Safety

202 lbs

6′0″ avg · #62 of 346 · top quarter

Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Wide receiver from high school

70%

#194 of 243 stints

Postseason detail2021: Lost to Army 22-24 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl2022: Lost to Wake Forest 17-27 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl2023: Beat Ohio State 14-3 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic2024: Beat Iowa 27-24 TransPerfect Music City Bowl2025: Lost to Virginia 7-13 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

23 NFL Draft picks: Nick Bolton (2021), Tyree Gillespie (2021), Larry Borom (2021), Joshuah Bledsoe (2021), Larry Rountree III (2021), Akayleb Evans (2022), Tyler Badie (2022), Isaiah McGuire (2023) + 15 more

4 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): Harrison Mevis (2021), Kris Abrams-Draine (2023), Cody Schrader (2023), Ahmad Hardy (2025)

AI Narratives — “Missouri's Offseason Moves” and 5 more on the team page.

+3.6

52-31

2016–2019

Barry Odom Steady

Barry Odom slid Missouri from Power Program III to National Program I in 4 seasons.

No outlier style signal this stint

−2.3 pts over 4 seasons · top 46% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Major Applewhite’s Houston run (2016–2018)

6th-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Gary Pinkel (2001–2015) · succeeded by Eli Drinkwitz (2020–now).

System Shift, on arrival

System Shift, on departure

Season	2016	2017	2018	2019
Record & result
Record	4-8	7-6	8-5	6-6
Postseason	—	L bowl	L bowl	—
Recruiting rank	#43	#43	#43	#37
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	47.3	46.9	44.9	44.1
Coordinators
OC	Josh Heupel	Josh Heupel	Derek Dooley	Derek Dooley
DC	DeMontie Cross / Ryan Walters	Ryan Walters	Ryan Walters	Ryan Walters
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	58	91	80	15
Defense	33	53	74	84
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	48.1	46.9	40.9	41.7
Red-zone pass%	32.4	46.4	34.5	43.1
4th-down go%opp. territory	35.1	8.0	15.8	23.5

Recruiter or developer?

Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.

Offense vs. talent

+5.9 pts

#83 of 208 · middle half

Defense vs. talent

+6.2 pts

#75 of 208 · middle half

Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.

Does the system survive a coordinator change?

OC: Josh Heupel → Derek Dooley · 2018The offense collapsed across the change

2-season window either side.

1st-down pass rate: 47.5% → 41.3% (-6.2 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 76% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

DC: DeMontie Cross / Ryan Walters (co) → Ryan Walters (co) · 2017

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Grows Edge from high school

100%

#191 of 208 stints

Postseason detail2017: Lost to Texas 16-33 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl2018: Lost to Oklahoma State 33-38 Bowl

6 NFL Draft picks: Charles Harris (2017), J'Mon Moore (2018), Drew Lock (2019), Terry Beckner Jr. (2019), Jordan Elliott (2020), Albert Okwuegbunam (2020)

−2.3

25-25

2001–2015

Gary Pinkel Builder

Gary Pinkel raised the Tigers from Regional Program II to Power Program III.

2015 offense ranked in the 4th percentile nationally — historically bad

+24.1 pts over 15 seasons · top 18% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Steve Spurrier’s Florida run (1990–2001)

3rd-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Larry Smith (1994–2000) · succeeded by Barry Odom (2016–2019).

System Shift, on departure

Season	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Record & result
Record	4-7	5-7	8-5	5-6	7-5	8-5	12-2	10-4	8-5	10-3	8-5	5-7	12-2	11-3	5-7
Postseason	—	—	L bowl	—	W bowl	L bowl	W bowl	W bowl	L bowl	L bowl	W bowl	—	W bowl	W bowl	—
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	#19	#42	#43	#30	#28	#38	#21	#56	#33	#43	#37	#25
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	45.2	47.8	50.4	52.3	57.5	51.3	52.7	39.4	47.8	43.6	43.5	48.4
Coordinators
OC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Josh Henson	Josh Henson
DC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Dave Steckel	Barry Odom
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	23	43	88	93	88	49	55	92	17	72	62	4
Defense	—	—	—	83	42	59	67	17	29	70	73	50	24	82	93
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	42.0	42.9	47.9	49.1	55.5	49.0	52.3	38.9	43.4	45.4	42.6	43.3
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	29.9	31.7	44.1	45.0	47.2	40.0	41.2	33.9	43.2	46.2	44.6	43.8
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	50.0	34.2	25.0	19.5	26.9	38.8	26.2	28.6	24.5	17.6	23.9	15.0

Recruiter or developer?

Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.

Offense vs. talent

-53.6 pts

#209 of 208 · bottom quarter

Defense vs. talent

+36.9 pts

#3 of 208 · top quarter

Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.

Does the system survive a coordinator change?

DC: Dave Steckel → Barry Odom · 2015

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Grows Edge from high school

100%

#191 of 208 stints

Postseason detail2003: Lost to Arkansas 14-27 Bowl2005: Beat South Carolina 38-31 Bowl2006: Lost to Oregon State 38-39 Bowl2007: Beat Arkansas 38-7 Bowl2008: Beat Northwestern 30-23 Bowl2009: Lost to Navy 13-35 Bowl2010: Lost to Iowa 24-27 Insight Bowl2011: Beat North Carolina 41-24 AdvoCare V100 INDEPENDENCE BOWL2013: Beat Oklahoma State 41-31 At&T Cotton Bowl2014: Beat Minnesota 33-17 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl

36 NFL Draft picks: Justin Gage (2003), Keith Wright (2003), Atiyyah Ellison (2005), Damien Nash (2005), C.J. Mosley (2005), Brad Smith (2006), Tony Palmer (2006), Brian Smith (2007) + 28 more

+24.1

118-73

1994–2000

Larry Smith Steady

Larry Smith moved Missouri from Regional Program III to Regional Program I in 7 seasons.

+4.9 pts over 7 seasons · top 34% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Gus Malzahn’s Auburn run (2013–2020)

11th-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Bob Stull (1989–1993) · succeeded by Gary Pinkel (2001–2015).

Season	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Record & result
Record	3-8-1	3-8	5-6	7-5	8-4	4-7	3-8
Postseason	—	—	—	L bowl	W bowl	—	—
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Defense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Postseason detail1997: Lost to Colorado State 24-35 Bowl1998: Beat West Virginia 34-31 Bowl

5 NFL Draft picks: Ernest Blackwell (1998), Ron Janes (1998), Craig Heimburger (1999), Jeff Marriott (2000), Justin Smith (2001)

+4.9

33-46-1

1989–1993

Bob Stull Steady

Bob Stull slid the Tigers from National Program III to Regional Program I in 5 seasons.

−10.8 pts over 5 seasons · bottom 10% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Gary Crowton’s BYU run (2001–2004)

10th-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Woody Widenhofer (1985–1988) · succeeded by Larry Smith (1994–2000).

2 NFL Draft picks: Victor Bailey (1993), A.J. Ofodile (1994)

−10.8

15-38-2

1985–1988

Woody Widenhofer Steady

Woody Widenhofer slid the Tigers from Power Program III to National Program I in 4 seasons.

−15.3 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 2% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Mike Locksley’s New Mexico run (2009–2011)

9th-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Warren Powers (1978–1984) · succeeded by Bob Stull (1989–1993).

1 NFL Draft pick: John Clay (1987)

−15.3

12-31-1

1978–1984

Warren Powers Steady

Warren Powers moved Missouri from Power Program III to Power Program II in 7 seasons.

+3.5 pts over 7 seasons · top 44% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Lee Owens’s Akron run (1995–2003)

2nd-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Al Onofrio (1971–1977) · succeeded by Woody Widenhofer (1985–1988).

Season	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Record & result
Record	8-4	7-5	8-4	8-4	5-4-2	7-5	3-7-1
Postseason	W bowl	W bowl	L bowl	W bowl	—	L bowl	—
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Defense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Postseason detail1978: Beat LSU 20-15 Bowl1979: Beat South Carolina 24-14 Bowl1980: Lost to Purdue 25-28 Bowl1981: Beat Southern Miss 19-17 Bowl1983: Lost to BYU 17-21 Bowl

18 NFL Draft picks: Kellen Winslow (1979), Earl Gant (1979), Kurt Petersen (1980), Gerry Ellis (1980), Howard Richards (1981), James Wilder (1981), Eric Wright (1981), Wendell Ray (1981) + 10 more

+3.5

46-33-3

1971–1977

Al Onofrio Steady

Al Onofrio slid the Tigers from Power Program II to Power Program III in 7 seasons.

−8.0 pts over 7 seasons · bottom 10% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Jim Caldwell’s Wake Forest run (1993–2000)

4th-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Dan Devine (1958–1970) · succeeded by Warren Powers (1978–1984).

Season	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
Record & result
Record	1-10	6-6	8-4	7-4	6-5	6-5	4-7
Postseason	—	L bowl	W bowl	—	—	—	—
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Defense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Postseason detail1972: Lost to Arizona State 35-49 Bowl1973: Beat Auburn 34-17 Bowl

12 NFL Draft picks: Lorenzo Brinkley (1972), Scott Anderson (1974), John Kelsey (1974), Tony Galbreath (1976), Henry Marshall (1976), Morris Towns (1977), Steve Pisarkiewicz (1977), Curtis Brown (1977) + 4 more

−8.0

38-41

1958–1970

Dan Devine Builder

Dan Devine raised Missouri from Regional Program I to Power Program II.

+24.2 pts over 13 seasons · top 17% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Steve Spurrier’s Florida run (1990–2001)

1st-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Frank Broyles (1957) · succeeded by Al Onofrio (1971–1977).

+24.2

92-38-7

1957

Frank Broyles Short tenure

5-4-1

1936–1942, 1946–1956

Don Faurot Steady

Don Faurot held Missouri at National Program I for 18 seasons.

7th-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Succeeded by Chauncey Simpson (1943–1945) · returned in 1946 · succeeded by Frank Broyles (1957).

National Program I

97-77-7

1943–1945

Chauncey Simpson Steady

Chauncey Simpson held the Tigers at National Program I for 3 seasons.

−4.3 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 40% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Bobby Hauck’s UNLV run (2010–2014)

8th-best Missouri tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Don Faurot (1936–1942) · succeeded by Don Faurot (1946–1956).

−4.3

12-14-2