Gary Pinkel looks back on Hall of Fame career
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Former Mizzou football coach Gary Pinkel looked back on his Hall of Fame career on Tuesday in front of friends, family and local reporters.
Pinkel is a part of the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class. It was officially announced on Monday, but he said he found out about the news on Thursday morning.
"Being emotional is probably an understatement," Pinkel said. "If you ask my wife Missy, I was kind of a wreck for the whole day."
25 years of coaching will culminate in a Hall of Fame ceremony on Dec. 6. Pinkel is the all-time winningest coach at Mizzou and Toledo.
Former Mizzou athletic director Mike Alden hired Coach Pinkel in 2000.
"To be able to see that type of recognition for a guy with that type of character and certainly that type of legacy - and see that recognized in this way is pretty special," Alden said.
Pinkel left 10 years of success at Toledo to take over an MU program with two winning seasons in 17 years.
"At the end of the day, it's JWB," Pinkel said. "Just win baby."
Pinkel got the job done. First in the Big 12 and then in the SEC.
"I knew it was going to work," Pinkel said. "I just hoped I could stay here long enough to make it happen."
Pinkel won five division titles during his MU tenure. He took the Tigers to 10 bowl games, winning six of them.
"I just want to be respected for building a high level Power-Five program," Pinkel said.
Pinkel built the brand that continues today.
"Mizzou Made, that tag line came from Gary Pinkel," Alden said.
But in reality - It's Pinkel that made Mizzou.
"I’m looking at that football in front of me," Pinkel said. "There’s a lot of people that had to do with Gary Pinkel winning the award."
You can watch his our full interview with Coach Pinkel in the video player below.
You can watch our full conversation with Mike Alden in the video player below.
