Mizzou officially hires Eli Drinkwitz as head football coach
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The UM Board of Curators voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Eli Drinkwitz as the University of Missouri's new football coach.
Watch video of the news conference to introduce Drinkwitz in the player below.
Drinkwitz agreed to a six-year deal worth $24 million. He'll make $4 million per year. You can read the full details of the contract below.
"I can't wait for every Tiger to meet Eli, he's a special guy who has a magnetic personality that people will appreciate and enjoy. I'm thrilled to have him here at Mizzou leading our program, he's got passion, a plan and a vision that will take this program to great heights," Athletic director Jim Sterk said in a release. "We went on a search looking for the right coach at a crucial time, and we found him. On behalf of everyone at Mizzou, I'd like to welcome Coach Drinkwitz, his wife Lindsey and their daughters Addison, Emerson, Ella and Parker Lynn to our family!"
UM System President Mun Choi released a statement on the new hire.
"We invest in excellence. This is not just about investing in athletics excellence, this is about investing in excellence for this university and the entire state," Choi said in a release. "I'm also very appreciative of Jim Sterk's leadership throughout this process. He has our full support as we are very excited about the future of the MU athletic program."
MU Chancellor Alexander Cartwright weighed in on Drinkwitz as well.
"I am thrilled to welcome our new coach to Missouri's flagship university.  It has been such a pleasure to get to know Coach Drinkwitz and his family, and I look forward to seeing the passion, integrity and enthusiasm he will bring to our football program," Cartwright said in a release. "Thank you and congratulations to Jim Sterk and his team for their work throughout this process.  I am truly looking forward to the future of Mizzou football, as should all Missourians."
We first reported Mizzou had reached an agreement with Drinkwitz on Sunday night.
Drinkwitz, 36, comes to MU from Appalachian State. He led the Mountaineers to a 12-1 record this past season. This past Saturday, Appalachian State beat Louisiana 45-38 to win the Sun Belt Championship.
Drinkwitz has one year of head coaching experience, but he's been an assistant coach at four different schools - Auburn, Arkansas State, Boise State and North Carolina State.
This past season - Drinkwitz's squad averaged 39.4 points per game. The Mountaineers rushed for 229 yards and passed for 206 yards per game. Appalachian State scored 69 touchdowns in 2019.
