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Gary Pinkel’s tenure as Missouri head coach has been characterized by stability, at least in terms of his staff.
But with the recent departures of former defensive coordinator Dave Steckel, safeties coach Alex Grinch and offensive line coach Bruce Walker, Missouri’s staff looks more different than any other point during Pinkel’s tenure.
Below are Missouri’s remaining assistants, ranked by how many years they’ve coached with Pinkel:
1. Craig Kuligowski, defensive line — 24 years
Coach Kool has been as much a constant in Pinkel’s life as the coach’s oversized visor. But Pinkel’s longest-tenured staff member almost left Missouri to join Illinois during the offseason. As long as Kuligowski keeps producing NFL talent like Aldon Smith, Sheldon Richardson and Shane Ray, Missouri will continue to be known as “D-Line ZOU.”
2. Brian Jones, running backs — 23 years
The Tigers have produced 1,000-yard rushers in seven of the last 10 years, due in no small part to Jones’ constant presence with Missouri running backs. Whether it’s balancing a likely backfield trio this season or receiving the option back in Missouri’s Big 12 days, Tigers running backs have consistently produced under Jones.
3. Cornell Ford, cornerbacks — 21 years
The final holdover from Pinkel’s Toledo days, Ford worked with receivers in Ohio before switching to the secondary in Columbia. Not typically the Tigers’ top personnel group, Ford has steadily raised this year’s corners into one of the team’s strong points. Ford also recruits St. Louis players, and area coaches absolutely love him.
4. Andy Hill, quarterbacks and associate head coach — 15 years
Hill is actually the longest-tenured Missouri coach, having been with the program since 1996. Pinkel kept him from Larry Smith’s staff, and ever since Hill has been an integral part in developing offensive players. He worked with receivers like Jeremy Maclin and Danario Alexander as receivers coach before taking over the quarterbacks in 2013. Missouri quarterbacks have won 23 games since, the most in a two-year span in Missouri history. Hill also serves as the Tigers’ primary recruiter in the important Kansas City area.
5. Barry Odom, defensive coordinator and linebackers — 10 years
This is Odom’s second stint on Pinkel’s staff, having played for the coach at Missouri before taking on various operations jobs in the mid-2000s. He coached safeties from 2009-11, then left to be defensive coordinator at Memphis. Odom returned this offseason to replace Steckel, and is the most likely Missouri staffer to one day replace Pinkel.
6. Josh Henson, offensive coordinator and tight ends — 7 years
Pinkel’s first new hire since bringing on his original staff in 2001, Henson came from LSU to help with Missouri’s offensive line. After David Yost resigned as offensive coordinator, Pinkel promoted Henson to that role for the 2013 season. That move has more than paid off. Henson’s shift to more of a run-based spread exploits the Tigers’ strengths at the running back and offensive line positions while minimizing the pressure on Mizzou’s quarterbacks. Don’t be surprised if in a few years Henson gets the call to lead another program.
7. Pat Washington, receivers — 3 years
Pinkel’s first “SEC hire,” Washington coached at Kentucky, Mississippi State and Tennessee before coming to Missouri in 2013. He did a great job of elevating a previously-inexperienced receiving corps in 2014, but he’s tasked with an even more difficult job this season.
8. A.J. Ricker, offensive line — 2 years
A former Missouri center, Ricker’s last season as a player (2003) came just before Pinkel really established himself in Columbia. Both coaches talk about those tougher days fondly, and Pinkel surely appreciates the way his former captain helped lead the line when the team wasn’t winning. Ricker changed some terminology when he came back to coach in 2014, but the players adjusted and responded positively to his intensity.
9. Ryan Walters, safeties — 1 year
Walters followed Odom from Memphis, where he worked with the cornerbacks. Pinkel actually coached against Walters, a former safety and captain at Colorado.
He’s replacing Pinkel’s nephew, Grinch, who left to become Washington State’s defensive coordinator in the offseason.
Mike Shaw is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Missouri, Texas A&M and Arkansas. Follow Mike on Twitter @michaelvshaw
