Missouri football is heading into the 2026 season with a revamped coaching staff, and it's clear head coach Eli Drinkwitz isn’t just tweaking around the edges - he’s making bold, strategic moves to elevate the Tigers’ program.
The biggest headline? Garrett Riley, the former Clemson offensive coordinator and a past Broyles Award winner, is now Missouri’s quarterbacks coach.
Riley’s track record speaks for itself - he’s known for his creativity and quarterback development, and while his Clemson stint ended after the 2025 season, his offensive mind remains one of the most respected in the college game. He’ll step into the role vacated by Sean Gleeson, who took the OC job at Kansas State earlier this month.
Joining Riley on the offensive side is Alex Atkins, the former LSU assistant who served as interim offensive coordinator in Baton Rouge last season. Atkins is now Missouri’s tight ends coach, replacing Derham Cato, who followed former Tigers OC Kirby Moore to Washington State. Atkins brings SEC experience and a reputation as a strong recruiter - a key asset as Missouri continues to build its offensive identity under new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, whose hiring was confirmed back in December.
Over on special teams, Drinkwitz tapped John Papuchis to take over as coordinator. Papuchis comes from Florida State, where he held the same role, and he’ll also serve as a defensive assistant. He replaces Erik Link, who had been Drinkwitz’s special teams coordinator since his head coaching debut and recently took the same position at New Mexico.
On the defensive line, Missouri adds Levorn “Chop” Harbin, formerly with Tennessee. Harbin steps in for Al Davis, who resigned in May and has since landed at Missouri State. Harbin’s energy and player development chops will be key for a defensive front looking to take another step forward in the SEC trenches.
In addition to the headline hires, Missouri also made several internal promotions and support staff additions. Brendan Bognar, formerly at Florida State, joins as assistant quarterbacks coach, while Luke Meadows comes aboard as assistant offensive line coach.
Defensively, Drinkwitz handed out new titles to three returning assistants. Linebackers coach Derek Nicholson now adds co-defensive coordinator duties to his plate, giving him a larger role in shaping the overall scheme.
Brian Early, who coaches defensive ends, is now officially the team’s “pass-rush specialist” - a nod to the importance of getting after the quarterback in today’s game. Safeties coach Jacob Yoro has been elevated to pass-game coordinator, giving him a broader influence over the back end of the defense.
All of these moves come after a wave of offseason turnover, sparked by Kirby Moore’s departure to take the head coaching job at Washington State. Moore had been Missouri’s offensive coordinator and took Cato with him to Pullman. But with Lindsey now leading the offense and a fresh group of assistants stepping in, Missouri has quickly reloaded.
Drinkwitz expressed his excitement about the new additions, emphasizing their work ethic, recruiting ability, and football IQ. “We’re thrilled to add Alex, Chop, John and Garrett to our coaching staff,” he said in a release.
“All four bring a tremendous work ethic, are fantastic recruiters, have a deep understanding of the game and a strong ability to connect with our players. We’re excited to welcome them and their families to Columbia, and we are all ready to get to work.”
These hires are also backed by an investment from the university. As part of Drinkwitz’s most recent contract extension, Missouri increased its staff salary pool from $12 million to $16 million annually - a $4 million bump that reflects the program’s commitment to competing at the highest level.
With the 2026 season on the horizon and the coaching staff now largely in place, the Tigers are positioning themselves to build on recent momentum. There’s a clear sense of urgency - and ambition - in Columbia. Now, it’s about turning that offseason energy into wins on Saturdays.