Al Pogue joined the Tigers football program in February 2022, and serves as the assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach. He spent his first season as the cornerbacks coach before being elevated to his current position.
Mizzou is the second coaching stop in which Pogue and head coach Eliah Drinkwitz have been on staff together (2011 Auburn University).
Pogue, a 25-plus year coaching veteran, including six-plus years as a high school head coach and two years as the Tigers’ assistant head coach, has a resume that includes a 2011 BCS National Championship game showing, a Sun Belt Conference title and eight bowl game appearances (2011 Chick-fil-A, 2016 and 2018 Dollar General, 2017 New Orleans, 2020 Citrus, 2022 Gasparilla, 2023 Cotton, 2024 Music City). Additionally, he’s helped develop four National Football League talents, including two Mizzou selections in Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who were both taken in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions, respectively.
During his time in Columbia, Pogue’s cornerbacks unit has helped the Tigers improve in numerous statistical categories. Mizzou went from 47th his first two seasons in passing yards allowed to 18th in 2024. Additionally, MU improved in first down defense (40th in 2022 and 36th to 2023 to fifth in 2024), third down conversion percentage defense (33rd and 47th to fifth), defensive touchdowns (33rd and 29th to 12th), total defense (33rd and 33rd to 17th), and scoring defense (55th and 25th to 20th).
Pogue spent the 2021 season as the cornerbacks coach at Troy University. It marked his second stint on the Trojans staff having also served in the position from 2014-18. In his six years with the program, Pogue helped Troy register 43 combined wins, three consecutive bowl victories (2016-18) and the 2017 Sun Belt Championship. From 2016-18 alone, Pogue’s defensive units allowed just 20.8 points per game, ranking fourth nationally among Group of 5 Five schools.
Pogue mentored six student-athletes to All-Sun Belt Conference honors throughout his Troy tenure, including two-time recipients Blace Brown and Marcus Jones in 2017 and 2018. Brown concluded his career with 111 career tackles, 12 interceptions, and 16 pass breakups, while Jones earned Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors and All-America distinction in 2017 before being selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
In 2020, Pogue was the outside linebackers coach for Auburn under head coach Gus Malzahn. He also served on the Tigers’ staff from 2011-13 in a variety of different roles under head coach Gene Chizik (2011-12) and Malzahn (2013). Pogue was the offensive quality control assistant in 2011 before being elevated to special teams quality control assistant in 2012 and director of high school relations in 2013. During his tenure, the Tigers played in the 2013 BCS National Championship game, won the 2013 SEC Championship and participated in the 2011 Chick-fil-A and 2020 Citrus bowls.
Pogue joined the West Virginia staff for one year (2019) in between his stints at Troy and Auburn. He coached the outside linebackers and during his lone season mentored Josh Chandler-Semedo to All-Big 12 honors after the Canton, Ohio, native finished second on the team in tackles (72), while adding 3.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups. Additionally, he coached Tykee Smith to Freshman All-America honors his first seasons in a Mountaineers uniform.
Before getting his start in college coaching, Pogue spent 13 years at the high school level, including six seasons as a head coach. He led the programs at Carver High School (2008-10), St. Jude High School (2006-07) and Calhoun High School (2002), all of which were in Montgomery, Ala. In 2008, he led Carver to its first undefeated season. Pogue also spent time at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery as the defensive coordinator (2003-05), and Lee High School in Huntsville, Ala., as the Generals’ linebackers (2001) and defensive backs (1998-2000) coach.
Pogue was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at safety and cornerback for Alabama State University (1993-94-95-96), where he earned Sheridan Broadcast All-America honors in 1996 and two-time All-SWAC recognition in 1995 (second team) and 1996 (first team).
A native of Mobile, Ala., Pogue graduated from Alabama State with a bachelor's degree in special education in 1998.
He is married to the former Nikita Jackson of Mobile, Ala., and they are the parents of daughter Allison and son Nasir, who is a current member of Mizzou’s football team.
THE AL POGUE FILE
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama
Education: Alabama State, 1998 (special education)
Wife: Nikita
Children: Allison and Nasir
Birthday: Sept. 14, 1974
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POGUE’S COACHING CAREER
- 2023-pres. – Missouri (Assistant Head Coach/Cornerbacks)
- 2022 – Missouri (Cornerbacks)
- 2021 – Troy (Cornerbacks)
- 2020 – Auburn (Outside Linebackers)
- 2019 – West Virginia (Outside Linebackers)
- 2014-18 – Troy (Cornerbacks)
- 2013 – Auburn (Director of High School Relations)
- 2012 – Auburn (Special Teams Quality Control Assistant)
- 2011 – Auburn (Offensive Quality Control Assistant/Quarterbacks)
- 2008-10 – Carver High School [Ala.] (Head Coach)
- 2006-07 – St. Jude High School [Ala.] (Head Coach)
- 2003-05 – Sidney Lanier High School [Ala.] (Defensive Coordinator)
- 2002 – Calhoun High School [Ala.] (Head Coach)
- 2001 – Lee High School [Ala.] (Linebackers)
- 1998-2000 – Lee High School [Ala.] (Defensive Backs)
