Eliah "Eli" Drinkwitz is the head coach of the Missouri Tigers, representing the University of Missouri. Drinkwitz took over the Missouri program in December 2019, following a successful stint at Appalachian State, where he led the Mountaineers to a remarkable 12-1 record and a Sun Belt Conference championship in his only season as head coach.
Drinkwitz began his coaching journey at the high school level, working at Alma High School in Arkansas before moving to Springdale High School. There, he served as an offensive coordinator under Gus Malzahn, a prominent figure in college football coaching. His time at Springdale was marked by remarkable offensive outputs, setting school records for total offense. In 2010, Drinkwitz transitioned to college football as a quality control assistant at Auburn University. He was part of the coaching staff during Auburn's national championship run in 2010 under head coach Gene Chizik. Following this success, he joined Arkansas State in 2012 as the running backs coach and quickly rose to co-offensive coordinator by 2013. His tenure there was highlighted by the development of a potent rushing attack that ranked among the best in the nation.
Upon his hiring at Missouri, Drinkwitz led the Tigers to a .500 record (5-5) in 2020, which was commendable given the challenges posed by COVID-19 and limited scholarship players. The Tigers finished with identical 6-6 records in 2021 and 2022, participating in bowl games each year but falling short of victory. However, it was the 2023 season that marked a turning point for both Drinkwitz and Missouri football. The Tigers achieved an 11-2 record, finishing second in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) East and securing a victory against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
Eliah Drinkwitz salary
According to USA Today, Eliah Drinkwitz's salary stands at $9,000,000 for the 2024-2025 season. He will also earn a bonus of $1,300,000. Drinkwitz's salary is expected to increase by $250,000, starting in 2026.
Eliah Drinkwitz contract
According to On3, Eliah Drinkwitz has signed a five-year contract with the Missouri Tigers football team. The contract guarantees a total salary of $9 million in the first two years, $9.25 million in the next two, and $9.5 million in 2028, the final year of the contract, as per Rivals.
Here is a table of the incentives in Drinkwitz's contract, as per Rivals:
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
SEC Coach of the Year | $50,000 |
CFP Appearance | $250,000 |
CFP Quarterfinal Appearance | $300,000 |
CFP Semifinal Appearance | $450,000 |
CFP Championship Appearance | $600,000 |
CFP National Championship | $750,000 |
FAQ's on Eliah Drinkwitz
A. According to Rivals, Drinkwitz earns $9 million per year in total compensation from the university. That number increases incrementally over the course of his deal. The coach will earn $9.25 million beginning in 2026 and is due to earn $9.5 million in 2028.
A. 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.
A. Drinkwitz – 28-21 at MU (four seasons) and 40-22 overall as a head coach (five seasons) – advanced to bowl games in his first four seasons with the Tigers, joining former head coach Warren Powers (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981) as the only two MU head coaches to achieve the feat.
