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11/27 10:33 CST Missouri locks in Eli Drinkwitz with six-year, $10.75 million
annual contract through 2031 season
Missouri locks in Eli Drinkwitz with six-year, $10.75 million annual contract
through 2031 season
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
Missouri and Eli Drinkwitz have agreed to a six-year contract that will push
the football coach's average compensation to $10.75 million annually and likely
end any speculation that he could leave for one of the high-profile job
openings elsewhere.
The new contract was announced Thursday, one day after the University of
Missouri Board of Curators held a meeting in which they voted unanimously to
approve the deal. It would keep Drinkwitz leading the Tigers through the 2031
season.
"My family and I believe deeply in the vision and leadership from our
administration and are incredibly happy to continue calling Columbia our home,"
Drinkwitz said. "I'm grateful for the unwavering support of President Mun Choi,
the Board of Curators, led by chair Todd Graves and incoming vice chair Bob
Blitz, along with our athletics director, Laird Veatch.
"We're also incredibly thankful for the support of our generous donors and NIL
partners," Drinkwitz added in a statement released by the school. "I'm
committed to continuing our work to build Mizzou into a championship program."
Drinkwitz was hired by Missouri in December 2019 after a single season at
Appalachian State, where he went 12-1 and finished the year ranked in the top
20. The Tigers had fallen on hard times, but Drinkwitz steadily built them into
a contender in the Southeastern Conference, reaching a bowl game in each of his
first five seasons with a record of 45--28 heading into Saturday's game against
Arkansas.
That success, which included an 11-2 record and Cotton Bowl victory two years
ago, made Drinkwitz a hot commodity on the coaching carousel. Missouri has
acted aggressively to keep him, and the deal given to him this week is the
second in the last four months.
Missouri officials were no doubt worried about losing Drinkwitz amid a hot
coaching market. SEC rivals LSU, Florida, Arkansas and Auburn have openings,
while power programs such as Penn State, UCLA and Stanford also are looking for
new coaches.
"Under his vision and leadership, Coach Drinkwitz has transformed the standard
for Mizzou football and united our entire program and fan base behind a clear
pursuit of excellence," Veatch said. "We're thrilled he will continue leading
our team into the future."
Missouri has invested heavily in its football program, building a robust NIL
program and undertaking massive renovations to Memorial Stadium. That includes
a $250 million rebuild of the north end zone that is expected to be completed
for the 2026 season.
The Tigers have sold out 20 consecutive home games, breaking the school record
set in 1978.
"It's critically important that we continue providing Coach Drinkwitz with the
resources necessary to build and develop championship rosters in the
Southeastern Conference," Veatch said. "This new contract reflects our
commitment to further strengthening and enhancing those resources. Our will to
win is clear. We're fully aligned behind Coach Drinkwitz and eager to keep
building with him as he leads this program forward in the pursuit of
championships."
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