Kuligowski will stay at Mizzou

Mizzou defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski withdrew his name from the co-defensive coordinator opening at Illinois and will remain at Mizzou, the program confirmed Monday afternoon. Kuligowski was considering joining Tim Beckman’s staff at Illinois but ultimately decided to stay with Gary Pinkel.

“As a coach, you’re always looking to advance yourself professionally in hopes of someday having a chance to become a head coach,” Kuligowski said in a statement through the school. “It was important for me and my family to consider this opportunity, and I’m grateful to have gone through the experience, but after evaluating everything, what is best for us is to stay here at Mizzou.”

Kuligowski has coached a number of standout defensive linemen in Columbia. Most recently, he coached consensus All-American Shane Ray, who is a potential top 10 pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He also coached Citrus Bowl MVP Markus Golden, who finished the 2014 season with 10 sacks.

The long-time Missouri assistant also coached NFL lineman such as Kony Ealy, Sheldon Richardson and Aldon Smith. In addition, he was the defensive line coach of former Mizzou star Michael Sam.

“We’ve built something special here at Mizzou, and I’m excited to continue to be part of it,” Kuligowski adds in his statement.

The former Toledo lineman was passed over for the defensive coordinator position at Missouri when Dave Steckel left to become the head coach at Missouri State. Pinkel elected to go with former MU safeties coach Barry Odom, who was the defensive coordinator at Memphis. It is expected Kuligowski could get a raise for staying with the Tigers.

Had he accepted the job at Illinois, he would have walked into uncertainty. Illinois is coming off a 6-7 season, with Tim Beckman getting support from Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas for a fourth season. But Beckman, who did not have a Big Ten win until late into his second season in Champaign, is still on the hot seat. Kuligowski would have shared duties with co-defensive coordinator Tim Banks, whose defenses have ranked in the bottom three of the Big Ten in the last three seasons.

This is the second time in as many off-seasons Gary Pinkel has had his way with Illinois football, albeit in coaching hirings. In July, he nabbed former Illini offensive line coach A.J. Ricker, drawing public frustration from Illinois head coach Tim Beckman.