Mizzou, Eliah Drinkwitz agree on new contract
For the second time this year, Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz’s contract is receiving a major boost. Mizzou and Drinkwitz announced the signing of a new six-year contract Thursday morning for a total of $64.5 million. The contract will run through the 2031 season.
“My family and I believe deeply in the vision and leadership from our administration and are incredibly happy to continue calling Columbia our home,” Drinkwitz said. “I’m grateful for the unwavering support of President Mun Choi, the Board of Curators, led by Chair Todd Gates and incoming Vice Chair Bob Blitz, along with our athletics director Laird Veatch. We’re also incredibly thankful for the support of our generous donors and NIL partners. I’m committed to continuing our work to build Mizzou into a championship program.”
Drinkwitz was on the verge of the top 10 highest-paid coaches in college football coming into the year at $9 million per season according to USA Today’s 2025 compensation survey, not including bonuses. The new deal raises his average annual compensation to $10.75 million.
The new deal reportedly includes incentives to add years, while raising both Drinkwitz’s salary and the pool of money for his assistants.
“Under his vision and leadership, Coach Drinkwitz has transformed the standard for Mizzou Football and united our entire program and fan base behind a clear pursuit of excellence,” Veatch said. “We’re thrilled he will continue leading our team into the future. This is an incredible time for our program: Our unprecedented 20-game home sellout streak speaks to our fans’ tremendous passion and commitment. While the Memorial Stadium Centennial Project reflects our growing and sustained investment in Mizzou Football.
“It’s also critically important that we continue providing Coach Drinkwitz with the resources necessary to build and develop championship rosters in the Southeastern Conference. This new contract reflects our commitment to further strengthening and enhancing those resources. Our ‘Will to Win’ is clear – we’re fully aligned behind Coach Drinkwitz and eager to keep building with him as he leads this program forward in the pursuit of championships.”
Back in July, Drinkwitz received a one-year extension that did not increase his yearly salary. But it did increase his pool money for assistant coaches, strength and conditioning staff and support staff.
The new extension comes on the heels of multiple coaching openings across college football. Drinkwitz’s name had been brought up as a candidate for other schools throughout the back half of the season.
The Tigers locked up the coach who led them to consecutive double-digit win seasons and another where he is still trying to end 9-4.
The 33rd coach in Missouri football history entered his sixth season with a record of 38-24. And he holds a 7-4 record this season following the Tigers loss to Oklahoma. Mizzou will play at Arkansas at 2:30 p.m. Saturday for the final game of the regular season.
His 38 wins before this season already had Drinkwitz tied with Al Onofrio for the sixth most wins leading Mizzou. Through 2025, he has already passed Gwinn Henry (40) for fifth and is approaching Warren Powers (46) for fourth.
He’ll have a long way to go to reach the top three in program history. Gary Pinkel leads the way at 117, Don Faurot is second at 107 and Dan Devine is third at 93.
But with Drinkwitz now under contract for the next six years, he can continue to climb the ranks.
Much of the success for Drinkwitz has come from roster building.
The Mizzou mentor has had a top-30 class each year since the class of 2021 (26th). He followed that up with the No. 18 class in the country in 2022. Then the No. 36 class in 2023, the No. 21 class in 2024 and the No. 16 class in 2025.
He has continued to add to the class of 2026. The Tigers currently sit at No. 22 in the country with Drinkwitz’s biggest class currently sitting at 22 commitments.