Gary Pinkel, Missouri Agree on New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Missouri Tigers football coach Gary Pinkel received a new contract Friday after leading his team to two straight SEC East Division championships.

Joe Walljasper and David Morrison of the Columbia Daily Tribune provided some details:

Pinkel came to Missouri before the 2001 season and has gone 113-66 since then, failing to make a bowl in just four of his 14 seasons.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Pinkel’s tenure has been the smooth transition from the Big 12 to the SEC. Missouri joined the SEC before the 2012 season, and Pinkel led the Tigers to the 2013 and 2014 conference title games. While his team ultimately lost to Auburn and Alabama, respectively, Missouri’s ability to contend so quickly in the perceived strongest league in the nation was notable.

Adam Kramer of Bleacher Report praised Pinkel for the news, while Jon Solomon of CBS Sports pointed out that the Tigers were simply keeping up with the arms race:

Pinkel’s new contract provides stability to the coaching situation in Missouri, which should help in recruiting moving forward. Prospects won’t have to worry about whether Pinkel will be around a few years down the road, which is important as the coaching staff builds relationships.

Recruiting is the lifeblood of sustained success in the sport, and Pinkel has built a consistent winner in the SEC East.