Eliah Drinkwitz
Eliah Drinkwitz (born April 12, 1983) is an American football coach. He is the head football coach at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, a position he has held since the 2020 season. Drinkwitz served as the head football coach at Appalachian State University in 2019. He was previously an assistant coach at North Carolina State University, Boise State University, Arkansas State University, and Auburn University.
Drinkwitz at 2019 Sun Belt Media Day | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Missouri |
| Conference | SEC |
| Record | 17–19 |
| Annual salary | $4 million[1] |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | April 12, 1983 Norman, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Arkansas Tech (2004) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2005 | Alma HS (AR) (assistant) |
| 2006–2009 | Springdale HS (AR) (OC) |
| 2010–2011 | Auburn (QC) |
| 2012 | Arkansas State (RB) |
| 2013 | Arkansas State (co-OC/RB) |
| 2014 | Boise State (TE) |
| 2015 | Boise State (OC/QB) |
| 2016–2018 | NC State (OC/QB) |
| 2019 | Appalachian State |
| 2020–present | Missouri |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 29–20 |
| Bowls | 0–2 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 Sun Belt (2019) 1 Sun Belt East Division (2019) | |
Coaching career
Auburn
After coaching at Springdale High School (Arkansas), where he coached with Gus Malzahn in 2004, Drinkwitz moved to Auburn in 2009 to work on football operations as the quality control coach, and was on the coaching staff when Auburn won the 2010 National Championship under Gene Chizik.[2]
Arkansas State
In 2012, after two successful seasons with Auburn, he followed Malzahn to Arkansas State, where he spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons as running backs coach, and in 2013 also served as co-offensive coordinator.
Boise State
In 2014, when Arkansas State head coach Bryan Harsin became head coach at Boise State, Drinkwitz joined his staff as the tight ends coach. In 2015, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
NC State
In 2016, Drinkwitz was named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at NC State. He served in this position for three seasons, during which he won two bowl games and won 25 games. The Wolfpack also finished at #23 in the AP Poll in 2017.
Appalachian State
On December 13, 2018, Drinkwitz was hired as the head coach at Appalachian State University.[3] In his one season as head coach of the Mountaineers, he finished 12-1, with a victory over Louisiana in the 2019 Sun Belt championship.[4][5] He did not coach their bowl game.[6]
Missouri
On December 9, 2019, Drinkwitz was hired as the head coach of the Missouri Tigers,[7] replacing Barry Odom. In his first season with Mizzou, the Tigers compiled a record of 5–5, including a win over defending national champion LSU, who also finished 5-5.[8][9] In the 2021 season, Drinkwitz led Missouri to a 6–6 regular season record and an appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl, a 24–22 loss to Army.[10][11] In the 2022 season, Drinkwitz again led Missouri to a 6–6 regular season record.[12] Missouri qualified for the Gasparilla Bowl, where they lost to Wake Forest 27–17.[13]
Personal life
Drinkwitz was born in Norman, Oklahoma to Jerry and Susie Drinkwitz, but his parents and older siblings moved to the Alma, Arkansas area in 1984 when Eli was a year old. Being raised in Alma and playing football for the Alma Airedales is what led him to want to become a football coach, especially hearing the stories of his father playing for Luther College in Decorah, Iowa during the 1960s. During his time at Alma, he was an All-Conference and All-State selection and was named FCA Huddle Leader of the Year.[14] He then chose to go to Russellville and received a bachelor's degree in education from Arkansas Tech University in 2004. Drinkwitz and his wife Lindsey have four daughters. After being hired by the University of Missouri, he moved to Columbia, Missouri.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State Mountaineers (Sun Belt Conference) (2019) | |||||||||
| 2019 | Appalachian State | 12–1 | 8–1 | 1st (East) | New Orleans* | 18 | 19 | ||
| Appalachian State: | 12–1 | 8–1 | * Departed Appalachian State for Missouri before bowl game | ||||||
| Missouri Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2020–present) | |||||||||
| 2020 | Missouri | 5–5 | 5–5 | 3rd (East) | Music City[n 1] | ||||
| 2021 | Missouri | 6–7 | 3–5 | T-4th (East) | L Armed Forces | ||||
| 2022 | Missouri | 6–7 | 3–5 | T-4th (East) | L Gasparilla | ||||
| Missouri: | 17–19 | 11–14 | |||||||
| Total: | 29–20 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
Notes
- ^ The 2020 Music City Bowl was canceled due to COVID-19 issues.
References
- ^ Terada, Souichi (December 10, 2019). . The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "2010 Depth Chart & Coaching Staff". AU Football Forum. August 23, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ Joyce, Ethan (December 13, 2018). "App State hires N.C. State offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz as head football coach". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ "2019 Appalachian State Mountaineers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "2019 Sun Belt Conference Year Summary". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "Sources: App State promotes Clark to head coach". ESPN.com. December 11, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "Report: Mizzou to Hire App State's Eli Drinkwitz". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. December 8, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Missouri Tigers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Southeastern Conference Year Summary". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "2021 Missouri Tigers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "Armed Forces Bowl - Missouri vs Army Box Score, December 22, 2021". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Missouri Tigers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "Gasparilla Bowl - Wake Forest vs Missouri Box Score, December 23, 2022". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2012.
External links
- Missouri Tigers bio