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Missouri hires DC Barry Odom to replace Gary Pinkel

graham watson

Missouri and defensive coordinator Barry Odom have agreed to a five-year deal to make him the Tigers’ next football coach.

Missouri will formally announce Odom in a news conference on Friday.

Odom, 39, has been with Missouri in some capacity for 14 seasons. He played for the Tigers from 1996-1999, was the director of football recruiting and football operations from 2004-2008 and coached safeties from 2009-2011. He left the program briefly to be the defensive coordinator under coach Justin Fuente at Memphis before returning this past season to be the defensive coordinator.

"We are extremely excited to announce Barry Odom as the new leader of the Mizzou football program," athletic director Mack Rhoades said in a statement. "We had the opportunity to visit with a number of excellent coaches throughout our search. At the conclusion of that process, Coach Odom was the clear choice to serve as our next coach. He is a man of high integrity and possesses all the qualities you look for in a successful head coach. He has an undeniable passion for Mizzou, a strong track-record of success at each level of his career and a clear vision to mentor our student-athletes and lead our program to even greater heights."

Under Odom’s leadership, the Tigers ranked ninth nationally in total defense, allowing just 302.0 yards per game. It also ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense with 16.2 points per game, and seventh in pass defense at 169.2 yards per game.

Odom replaces Gary Pinkel, who abruptly retired at the conclusion of the regular season after he disclosed he was battling cancer. Pinkel was 118-73 in 15 seasons with the Tigers. During that time, he won five conference division titles — three in the Big 12, two in the SEC — and took the program to 10 bowl games. The Tigers struggled in his final season and finished 5-7.

For more Missouri news, visit PowerMizzou.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!

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