Jan. 2, 2001

COLUMBIA, Mo.- Missouri Head Football Coach GARY PINKEL announced the promotion of defensive backs coach MATT EBERFLUS to defensive coordinator on Tuesday morning. Eberflus, who has coached under Pinkel for seven years, replaces Tom Amstutz, who came to Missouri with Pinkel, only to return to the University of Toledo as Pinkel's successor as head coach.

Eberflus, who played for Pinkel in 1991, spent his first five seasons of coaching as the outside linebackers coach at Toledo, guiding six players to all-conference honors. In 1995, his outside linebackers assisted on 22 of the team's 34 takeaways in helping the Rockets lead the country in turnover margin. He has spent the last two seasons coaching the secondary.

"Matt is certainly ready to take over the reigns as defensive coordinator," said Pinkel. "He knows our system and he learned it from the best in Tom Amstutz, so I am very confident that Matt will do the job here at Missouri."

Eberflus helped engineer a defense that led the nation in turnover margin in 1995 and 2000 at Toledo. The Rockets forced 31 turnovers last year, 15 were interceptions (26th nationally) while 16 were fumble recoveries (tied for sixth in the nation).

Pinkel also announced the hiring of DAVE STECKEL as Missouri's new inside linebackers coach. Steckel spent five seasons (1992-96) under Pinkel at Toledo as the defensive line coach. He was part of Toledo's undefeated team in 1995 and coached on a defensive staff that put together the No. 1 ranked defensive team in the Mid-American Conference and the No. 12 defense in the country in 1992.

Steckel coached the defensive line at Rutgers University for the last four seasons where he served as one of the school's top recruiters.

The 43-year old Steckel also had coaching stints at Lehigh University (linebackers, special teams, 1990-92), Dickinson College (assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, 1988-86), Ball State University (defensive line coach, 1984-95), and served as a graduate assistant coach at both Minnesota and Miami, OH

Steckel is a graduate of Kutztown University (1982) where he earned a degree in elementary education. He earned a masters degree in physical education in 1984 from Miami, OH. He spent four years (1975-1978) in the United States Marine Corps.

In another move on Tuesday, Pinkel named DAVE CHRISTENSEN Missouri's Associate Head Coach. Christensen, the Tigers offensive coordinator, has coached under Pinkel since 1992 and has served as offensive coordinator since the 1997 campaign.