Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz receives contract extension

Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz had his contract extended through the 2028 season with an increase in salary on Sunday, following a stellar season that was capped by a 14-3 victory over Ohio State in Friday night's Cotton Bowl.

Financial figures weren't disclosed but school officials indicated Drinkwitz's raise will put him among the top coaching salaries in the Southeastern Conference. Drinkwitz guided the No. 9 Tigers to an 11-2 record and was named SEC Coach of the Year.

The 11-win season was the first for Missouri since 2014. Missouri went 6-2 in SEC play this season.

In November 2022, Drinkwitz had his contract extended through 2027 and his annual salary was increased from $4 million to $6 million.

"This contract puts Coach Drink where he belongs, in the upper echelon of SEC head coach salaries," Robin Wenneker, Missouri's board of curators chair, said in the news release. "To continue in championship style, keeping Coach Drink and his staff together was the No. 1 priority for the Board of Curators and its administration."

Drinkwitz is 28-21 in four seasons at Missouri. This season marks his first winning campaign.

"You can't do this alone, and our players, coaches and staff have worked tirelessly and believed in the process of building a championship program," Drinkwitz said in the news release. "The passion of our fan base, alumni and donors is awesome, and we are proud to represent them. We are extremely grateful for the resources they provide and the continued investment from our administration in Mizzou football. All of it has allowed us to get to where we are."

Missouri previously extended the contracts of defensive coordinator Blake Baker and offensive coordinator Kirby Moore.

—Field Level Media