Mizzou football announces new roles for current coaches
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Two current Mizzou football coaches will have additional duties heading into the 2022 season.
MU said that special teams coordinator Erik Link will now also coach tight ends, while linebackers coach D.J. Smith will also serve as the recruiting coordinator.
The announcement comes after Mizzou's former tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Casey Woods left the program to become the offensive coordinator at SMU.
The Tigers will return five tight ends for 2022, including one which signed during the early signing period. However, MU did lose two of its main starters in that room, following the 2021 season. Daniel Parker Jr. entered the transfer portal in December and has already committed to Oklahoma and just on Tuesday Niko Hea decided to medically retire from football.
"Coach Link brings valuable coaching experience on the offensive side of the ball," head coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a press release. "Our tight ends group is young and promising. I look forward to seeing the progress the group will make under Erik."
The linebacker room will return two seniors in Chad Bailey and Devin Nicholson. Drinkwitz said this recruiting role is the next step in Smith's career.
"Our recruiting progress is generating positive momentum for our program, in state and nationally, and we hope to continue that with Coach Smith leading the effort," Drinkwitz said.
