Gary Pinkel Will Resign Due to Lymphoma: Details, Reaction

Missouri head football coach Gary Pinkel is resigning after the season as he continues treatment for lymphoma. 

According to an official release from Missouri's athletic website, Pinkel said he was diagnosed with the disease in May but decided to keep coaching as long as his health would allow:

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I made the decision in May, after visiting with my family, that I wanted to keep coaching, as long as I felt good and had the energy I needed. I felt great going into the season, but also knew that I would need to re-assess things at some point, and I set our bye week as the time when I would take stock of the future.  After we played Vanderbilt [Oct. 24], I had a scheduled PET scan on Oct. 26th for reassessment, and then visited with my family and came to the decision on October 27th that this would be my last year coaching.  I still feel good physically, but I decided that I want to focus on enjoying my remaining years with my family and friends, and also have proper time to battle the disease and give full attention to that.

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Pinkel added that he was "not doing poorly" health-wise and the disease is "manageable," though he noted "it's one that will never go away."

Missouri athletic director Mack Rhoades said in the release that Pinkel's impact goes beyond the university. 

"Gary is truly a coaching legend as the winningest coach at two Division I institutions while leaving a profound impact on a countless number of young men," Rhoades said. "We are extremely appreciative of all that he has done for Mizzou."

The 63-year-old Pinkel has been a head football coach at the collegiate level since 1991, when he took over at the University of Toledo. In 10 years with the Rockets, he posted a 73-37-3 record, which included an undefeated 1995 campaign. He was hired by Missouri after the 2000 season, leading the Tigers to 10 bowl games and five division titles between the Big 12 and SEC.

Mike Hall of the Big Ten Network shared some impressive numbers underscoring the difference Pinkel made in terms of recruiting and developing talent at Missouri:

The Tigers have gotten off to a rough 4-5 start this season, but that doesn't diminish the totality of Pinkel's accomplishments with the program. He took a school that won a total of seven games in two years before he arrived and turned it into a consistent presence in the Top 25 rankings. 

Pinkel's time at Missouri is coming to an end sooner than anyone expected, but he leaves huge shoes to fill.