Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach / Edges
- Email:
- fbrecruiting@missouri.edu
- Phone:
- 882-2214
Brian Early joined the Tigers football program in February 2024, and serves as an assistant coach, working primarily with edges.
A veteran with more than 30 years of coaching experience spanning high school and the FBS level, Early’s unit made an immediate impact during in his first season in Columbia. In 2024, he mentored Johnny Walker Jr. to Second Team All-SEC honors after the senior recorded 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Walker Jr. ranked fourth in the SEC in sacks and forced fumbles and tied for 17th nationally in sacks, while his streak of at least 0.5 sacks in seven straight games stood as the longest in the country. He later signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos.
Early also guided Zion Young in his first season at Mizzou, helping him post 42 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five quarterback pressures, one forced fumble, and a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown to seal a 30-23 win over Oklahoma.
Under Early’s leadership, Mizzou’s defensive front helped the Tigers finish fifth nationally in third down defense after ranking 33rd and 47th in the previous two seasons. The Tigers also made significant defensive improvements across multiple categories in 2024: first down defense: 40th (2022) and 36th (2023) to 5th (2024); defensive touchdowns: 33rd and 29th to 12th; total defense: 33rd and 33rd to 17th; and fourth down defense: 92nd and 121st to 43rd.
Early arrived in Columbia after five seasons at Houston, where he coached the Cougars’ defensive line from 2019-23. During his time at UH, Early developed one of the nation’s most consistent defensive fronts, helping the Cougars become one of just seven programs nationally with a defensive lineman selected in each of the last three NFL Drafts (joining Alabama, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin).
During his time with the Cougars, six of Early’s student-athletes made active NFL rosters, including four NFL Draft picks and two free agent signees. Seven of his players earned all-conference recognition, highlighted by Nelson Ceaser (First Team All-Big 12) and Jamaree Caldwell (Second Team All-Big 12) in 2023. Ceaser led the Big 12 in sacks with 9.5, while Caldwell ranked fifth in the league with 6.5 sacks. Caldwell would later be selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the third round (86th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.
A respected recruiter, Early also oversaw Houston’s junior-college efforts, helping land standout players such as wide receiver Tank Dell (3rd Round, 2023 NFL Draft, Houston Texans), defensive back Gervarrius Owens (7th Round, 2023 NFL Draft, New York Giants), and defensive back Damarion Williams (4th Round, 2022 NFL Draft, Baltimore Ravens).
Before his time at Houston, Early served as defensive line coach at Arkansas State from 2014-18. Under his leadership, the Red Wolves produced the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year in three-straight seasons from 2016-18 and consistently ranked among the nation’s top teams in sacks and tackles for loss. He guided defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones to back-to-back Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors and a career total of 43.5 sacks, the second-highest total in NCAA history. Rolland-Jones signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals following the 2017 season.
Arkansas State made five consecutive postseason appearances and claimed Sun Belt Conference titles in 2015 and 2016.
Early previously served as defensive quality control coach at Arkansas (2013), and before that, as defensive coordinator at Fayetteville High School (2009-12), helping the Bulldogs to three straight state championship game appearances and back-to-back 7A state titles in 2011 and 2012. His 2012 defense featured Brooks Ellis, a two-time Arkansas High School Defensive Player of the Year, and Alex Brignoni, who set the state’s large-classification record for career interceptions (19).
From 2004-08, Early coached the defensive line and special teams at Central Arkansas, where the Bears won two conference titles—one in Division II (2005) and one in the FCS Southland Conference (2008). His players included Larry Hart, the 2008 Southland Defensive Player of the Year and a fifth-round NFL Draft pick, and Jacob Ford, a sixth-round selection by the Tennessee Titans.
Early’s career also includes stops at Minnesota State-Mankato (2002-03), West Memphis High School (2001), Arkansas-Monticello (1999-2000)—his alma mater—and Greenland High School (1994-98), where he began his coaching career and helped lead the program to its first perfect season and playoff win.
A native of Monticello, Ark., Early earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from Arkansas-Monticello in 1994 before later earning a master’s degree in secondary education from the University in 2000.
Early is married to the former Nanci Ashley of Prairie Grove, Ark., and they are the parents of Sydney, Aivery, Camryn and Dre.
THE BRIAN EARLY FILE
Hometown: Monticello, Ark.
Education: Arkansas-Monticello, 1994 (physical education and health); Arkansas-Monticello, 2000 (secondary education)
Wife: Nanci
Children: Sydney, Aivery, Camryn and Dre
Birthday: June 15, 1971
EARLY'S COACHING CAREER
- 2024-pres. – Missouri (Edges)
- 2019-23 – Houston (Defensive Line)
- 2014-18 – Arkansas State (Defensive Line)
- 2013 – Arkansas (Defensive Quality Control)
- 2009-12 – Fayetteville High School [Ark.] (Defensive Coordinator)
- 2005-08 – Central Arkansas (Defensive Line/Special Teams)
- 2004 – Central Arkansas (Linebackers/Special Teams)
- 2002-03 – Minnesota State-Mankato (Linebackers/Special Teams)
- 2001 – West Memphis High School [Ark.] (Defensive Coordinator)
- 1999-2000 – Arkansas-Monticello (Linebackers)
- 1994-98 – Greenland High School [Ark.] (Defensive Coordinator)
