The 31st head coach in Mizzou football history, Gary Pinkel was hired on Nov. 30, 2000.

Pinkel came to Missouri after spending 10 very successful years as head coach at Toledo, where he amassed an impressive 73-37-3 record.

A graduate of Kent State University, Pinkel earned All-Conference honors at tight end in 1972 and 1973 and was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American selection in 1973.

Pinkel graduated from Kenmore High School in Akron, Ohio, and received his bachelor of science degree in education from Kent in 1973. He did post-graduate studies at Kent and Bowling Green, and in 1997 was inducted into the Kent Athletic Hall of Fame.

Pinkel now has led Mizzou to four bowl games, and that puts him in select company, as he joins Don Faurot, Dan Devine, Al Onforio, and Warren Powers as the only coaches to guide MU to three bowl games.

(info courtesy Univ. of Missouri)