Report: 'Strong candidate' emerges for the Missouri head coaching job
The coaching dominoes are starting to fall, and Lane Kiffin was a big one in the SEC.
Following the announcement that Kiffin had accepted the Ole Miss job, Arkansas and Missouri remained the two vacancies in the SEC. It appears that the Tigers and Hogs were both pursuing Appalachian State head coach Eli Drinkwitz; however, Missouri is now the team to beat for him, according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.
It was also reported Sunday that Arkansas had moved on to Georgia assistant Sam Pittman.
Drinkwitz is an offensive guru who finished 12-1 in his first season at Appalachian State. He’s a Gus Malzahn disciple having worked under Malzahn at Auburn, and he’s primed to land a big-time job.
SOURCE: #AppalachianState‘s Eli Drinkwitz has emerged as a strong candidate for the #MIzzou head coaching vacancy. He lead his team to a 12-1 record in his debut season. https://t.co/n1GkoBGJ0f
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 8, 2019
Drinkwitz was asked about head coaching opportunities Saturday, but he didn’t tip his hand.
“My family and I love it here,” Drinkwitz said in his postgame press conference. “We’re very excited about what we’re doing at App State, but at the same time every opportunity, you know, I owe it to the family — my family — for my family to see what’s something that we’re interested in. But I’m not in any hurry to leave. I feel strongly that we’re building something special here.”
Drinkwitz would be a solid hire for Missouri.
Mizzou needs to find their guy soon. Recruiting in these last few days is critical.
After the Odom hire (and fire) Sterk said HC experience is going to be a key consideration in the next coach at Mizzou. So his emerged front runner has 1 year experience. Not the end of the world, but it’s not looking like it’s been a successful search for Sterk. Odom apparently has emerged the front runner for Memphis HC job, which would be great for Odom and I hope he wins like crazy there.
Eli Drinkwits took over a program that went 40-10 the previous 4 years before him. I wouldn’t consider him as a game changer as a head coach.
I would have to agree with you. I would still take him over Pittman though.
Yes. True.
I think Healy is the guy we should pursue. If not Healy then from this group, Eberflus, Grinc, Venables, Elliot.
I’m curious SDS staff what is it that makes drink a solid hire for Mizzou? Its basically Odom 3 yrs ago. Would he be considered a solid hire for A&M? Georgia or Alabama? We needed someone that’s going to bring the d line big stars. That’s going to improve our receivers and help get the most out of Shawn or Connor. He can do that surely but will recruiting improve ? Will we ever be in or near the top half of our cobference in recruiting rankings? Our division? A step back while learning the tendencies of how our division rivals call their game, their tells, will be a huge disappointment. I know at this point Sterk is on a performance moving forward. We didn’t accomplish anything with the appeal except spend money the U didn’t have. Did we get the best volleyball coach available to us. Baseball is tough but we need to be a larger factor in how the conference lined up. Basketball is not as far along as expected and that reflects on sterk also. I think we could’ve hit in a bigger new star but it is what it is. And we must be in the top third consistently of our conference , our division for any hire any time.
How sterk performs moving forward should be evaluated and addressed immediately with every victory or one misstep.
I don’t know much about Drinkwitz, but he sounds like a good hire. If he cleans up team attitude, penalties, tackling/execution and gets recruits – then he has to do better than Odom.