Mizzou extension for Eli Drinkwitz includes major commitment to assistant staff, per report
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As it readies for Year 6 of the Eli Drinkwitz tenure, Mizzou isn’t just taking care of its head coach, but also ensuring that Drinkwitz has the resources to surround himself with the best assistant staff possible.
Mizzou announced a contract extension for Drinkwitz on Thursday, extending his deal through the 2029 season. While the extension reportedly did not include a raise for Drinkwitz, it added a significant chunk to the salary pool Drinkwitz can pull from to hire full-time assistants. According to ABC 17’s Nathalie Jones, Drinkwitz will have $12 million to use for his coaching staff. When he signed his original contract in 2019, the salary pool was $6.4 million.
LSU defensive coordinator (and former Mizzou assistant) Blake Baker was the highest-paid assistant coach in the country last season, according to the USA Today database. He made $2.5 million in his first season with the Bayou Bengals.
Mizzou offensive coordinator Kirby Moore was the Tigers’ highest-paid assistant at $1.5 million. And a boost to Drinkwitz’s salary pool gives him some upward mobility to ward off suitors for Moore this upcoming winter, if necessary.
Moore came to Mizzou in 2023 after 6 seasons at Fresno State. His current deal runs through the upcoming season, and he has been a popular name for pundits identifying coordinators ready for a head coaching gig this offseason.
“I certainly think he’s ready [to be a head coach] and he’s going to have an opportunity really, really soon,” Moore’s brother, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, said earlier this year.
A head coaching opportunity would be tough to compete with, but a bigger assistant pool will no doubt help Mizzou avoid situations where conference foes poach its top assistants for the same positions.
LSU paid its 10 on-field assistants a combined $9.3 million last season, according to the USA Today database. Georgia led all SEC teams with $10.33 million set aside for its assistant coaching staff. Mizzou’s 10 on-field assistants made a combined $6.98 million.
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Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
