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Report: Sonny Dykes among coaching candidates being interviewed at Missouri
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The coaching search continues for Mizzou, and it reportedly stretches across the country.
Missouri athletic director Mack Rhoades interviewed California coach Sonny Dykes on Tuesday, according to Yahoo Sports’ Pat Forde. Dykes, in his third season at Cal, has the Golden Bears at 7-5 and bowl eligible for the first time since 2011.
His contract is set to expire in 2017, and he’s yet to reach an extension with the school. Recruiting is difficult when a coach only has two years left on a contract, so extending Dykes or finding a new coach is in the program’s best interest.
Cal has improved reach season under Dykes. In his debut season in 2013, the school went 1-11, the school’s fewest wins since 2001 in Tom Holmoe’s final season. Since then, the Bears went 5-7 last season and 7-5 so far this season.
Hiring Dykes would be a big change in philosophy for a Missouri team that relied heavily on defense this season. Dykes’ Golden Bears ranked 9th in the FBS in total offense (524.4 yards per game), while Missouri ranked 125th (280.9). Only Boston College, Kent State and Central Florida ranked lower.
Meanwhile, Cal’s defense ranked 110th in total defense (455.3), while Missouri ranked 9th (302.0).
Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.
