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Eli Drinkwitz Coaching History & Bio
Last Updated:
| Eli Drinkwitz Teams Coached | Years Coached | Eli Drinkwitz Coaching Record |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State | 2019 | 12-1 |
| Missouri | 2020-present | 38-24 (22-20 SEC) |
Eli Drinkwitz Coaching History
- 2005: Alma HS (AR) — Offensive coordinator
- 2006-09: Springdale HS (AR) — Offensive coordinator
- 2010-11: Auburn — Quality control
- 2012: Arkansas State — Running backs coach
- 2013: Arkansas State — Co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach
- 2014: Boise State — Tight ends coach
- 2015: Boise State — Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach
- 2016-18: NC State — Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach
- 2019: Appalachian State — Head coach
- 2020-present: Mizzou — Head coach
Eli Drinkwitz Coaching History
Eli Drinkwitz was hired as the Missouri Tigers‘ head coach prior to the 2020 season. Through 5 seasons, the Tigers have qualified for bowl games all 5 years.
However, the former Appalachian State head coach and long-time offensive coordinator didn’t earn his first bowl win in Columbia until 2023. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Tigers qualified for the Music City Bowl, but the game was not played due to COVID-19 concerns. In 2021, the Tigers lost the Armed Forces Bowl and, in 2022, they fell in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Drinkwitz’s best season came in his 1 year at Appalachian State prior to heading to Columbia, where he led the Mountaineers to a 12-1 record in 2019, winning the Sun Belt Conference title that year. He left the program to take the head coaching job at Mizzou prior to the Mountaineers’ appearance in the New Orleans Bowl.
Drinkwitz finished each of his first 3 seasons at Mizzou with a record of exactly .500 in the regular season. The Tigers went 5-5 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. In 2021 and 2022, they posted identical 6-6 regular-season records before losing in bowl games.
However, the script flipped in 2023. Drinkwitz and the Tigers roared their way to a 10-2 regular-season record. That was good enough to earn a spot in the Cotton Bowl, where the Tigers took down Ohio State 14-3 to earn Drinkwitz his first bowl victory at Mizzou.
Drinkwitz’s 2024 Tigers took a half step down from their 11-2 2023 season, finishing 10-3 with zero wins over top 25 opponents, though they suffered zero “bad” losses, too. Bowl victory No. 2 for Mizzou under Drinkwitz came over Iowa in the Music City Bowl.
Drinkwitz has done some of his best work at Missouri on the recruiting trails. He has landed some top talent from the St. Louis area, including 5-star 2022 wide receiver (and East St. Louis native) Luther Burden III, who was the second-highest-rated recruit ever to sign with the Tigers, per the 247Sports composite rankings. The only recruit rated higher than Burden in Mizzou history was fellow WR Dorial Green-Beckham.
Drinkwitz’s 2022 recruiting class finished No. 15 in the 247Sports composite rankings and was the best recruiting class in Mizzou history. That Mizzou recruiting class was led by Burden, but also featured 8 signees who were rated as 4-star recruits by the 247Sports composite rankings.
Whether or not Drinkwitz can develop that talent and start finishing with records above .500 will define his tenure in Columbia. Mizzou fans would also like to see their energetic and witty coach win a couple of bowl games in the near future.
Drinkwitz got his coaching start at the high-school level, working at a pair of high schools in Arkansas. At the SEC level, he has close connections to former Auburn head coaches Gus Malzahn and Bryan Harsin. In 2010 and 2011, Drinkwitz served on Gene Chizik’s Auburn staffs as a quality control coach. Malzahn was the offensive coordinator for those teams, and the Tigers won the national title in 2010.
He then served on Malzahn’s staff as the running backs coach at Arkansas State in 2012 before Malzahn left in 2013 to take the Auburn head coaching job. Harsin took over at Arkansas State in 2013 before leaving for Boise State in 2014. Drinkwitz worked with Harsin from 2013-15 at both schools.
After 3 years at NC State as Dave Doeren’s offensive coordinator, Drinkwitz made the jump to the head coaching ranks.
FAQs About Eli Drinkwitz
What is Eli Drinkwitz's Salary?
Drinkwitz is due to earn $9 million in 2025 before bonuses. According to the Kansas City Star, his compensation includes a $450,000 base salary, along with four additional payments of $2,137,500 for arrangements such as, but not limited to television appearances, radio shows and other appearances before alumni and booster groups. Automatic raises are built into the contract every 2 years.
What is the Length of Eli Drinkwitz's Contract?
Two days after leading the Tigers to a Cotton Bowl victory against Ohio State on New Year’s Eve 2023, Drinkwitz was rewarded with a contract extension that locks him up through the 2028 season.
What is Eli Drinkwitz's Buyout?
Drinkwitz would be due 75% of his salary with an additional $6 million owed to him by the university at the time of his termination. If he lands another job during the term of the contract, his buyout would be cleared for every dollar based on his new salary. Should Drinkwitz choose to terminate his contract on his own, he would owe Missouri $6 million.
Does Eli Drinkwitz Have a National Championship Ring?
Yes. Drinkwitz was a quality control assistant on Gene Chizik’s staff at Auburn in 2010 when the Tigers went a perfect 14-0 and beat Oregon in the BCS national championship game with Cam Newton as its quarterback.
Award-winning columnist Brett Friedlander has covered the ACC and college basketball since the 1980s.
