Missouri Announces New Contract for Gary Pinkel
11/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 21, 2003
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri and Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel have agreed to terms of a new contract that will keep Pinkel a fixture on the Tiger sidelines through the 2008 season, as announced today by Director of Athletics Mike Alden.
In his third season at Mizzou, Pinkel, 51, has the Tigers at 7-3 currently and bowl eligible for just the third time since 1983. Missouri has returned to the top-25 polls during the 2003 season, and made national headlines when it defeated 10th-ranked Nebraska in October, marking the program's first win over the Huskers since 1978.
With a career record of 89-54-3 in 13 seasons, Pinkel ranks 20th among active Division I-A coaches with his career winning percentage of .620. He came to Missouri in November of 2000, after a successful 10-year run as head coach at the University of Toledo.
Pinkel's original contract took him through the 2005 season. That same deal was extended in August of 2002, through the 2007 season. Complete terms of the new agreement will be released shortly, but the agreement increases Pinkel's base salary from $192,000 per year to $250,000 per year.
"This is an important day for Missouri Tiger football," said Alden. "Gary Pinkel is well on his way to building a top-notch program, and I'm pleased that we are able to show that our institution believes in the work that he and his staff are doing. The progress shown on the field speaks for itself, and then when you consider the inroads Gary has made in recruiting, and the fact that this year we are playing a record number of times on television, those are just a few other tangible measurements that show we have the right guy for the job," he said.
"Quite obviously, I'm very grateful to the entire University community for its support," said Pinkel. "We came here with a vision of building a first-class national program, and while this is still a work in progress, I do believe we are making strides. A commitment like this validates all the work you put in, and is very critical to the building process," he said.
