After taking Missouri to the SEC Championship Game and winning the Cotton Bowl last season, Gary Pinkel was deserving of a raise. As previously reported, that was in the works and agreed to by both sides. Now that contract has officially been approved by the university, formally extending Pinkel’s contract for seven years.
Pinkel’s new contract will run through 2020 and pay $3.1 million per season and he will receive a $100,000 raise each year moving forward. He was being paid $2.8 million last season, making him the 20th highest paid head coach in the country last season according to a database of coaching salaries organized by USA Today. Pinkel will now be the SEC’s ninth head coaching earning at least $3 million in annual salary. Auburn’s Gus Malzahn became the eighth coach to receive a $3 million per year contract last December after leading the Tigers to the SEC Championship game against Pinkel and Missouri. In addition, Pinkel’s staff will also be increased from $2.66 million to $3.2 million.
“It is important for us to be able to recognize what Gary and his staff have achieved for the University of Missouri,” said Director of Athletics Mike Alden in a released statement. “We’re very grateful to the Board of Curators and University leadership for their support of our program, which is among the best in the nation both academically and competitively.”
“I’m very honored and proud to be the coach at Mizzou, and I appreciate the opportunity,” said Pinkel. “It’s important for our program to keep moving forward and build on a solid foundation. I’m pleased that my assistant coaches continue to get recognized for the work they do. We are fortunate to have a great staff at Mizzou.”
One of the biggest advantages any football program can have is stability. Now, Missouri has some solid security in place with Pinkel lined up until the end of the 2020 season and the assistant coaching staff getting a bump in pay.