College Sports

Former MU assistant out as Missouri State football coach after five losing seasons

FILE - In this Sept. 2017, file photo, Missouri State head coach Dave Steckel watches his team play Missouri during an NCAA college football game in Columbia, Mo. Missouri State University and football coach Dave Steckel are parting ways, the university announced Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. Steckel, a former defensive coordinator at the University of Missouri, was 13-42 in five seasons at Missouri State.(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 2017, file photo, Missouri State head coach Dave Steckel watches his team play Missouri during an NCAA college football game in Columbia, Mo. Missouri State University and football coach Dave Steckel are parting ways, the university announced Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. Steckel, a former defensive coordinator at the University of Missouri, was 13-42 in five seasons at Missouri State.(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File) AP

Dave Steckel is out as Missouri State’s football coach.

The school announced on Thursday that Steckel, who had served as Missouri’s defensive coordinator before taking over in Springfield, had accepted a buyout with a maximum value of $340,000 plus moving expenses. Steckel was under contract through 2021.

Steckel went 13-42 in five seasons. He arrived at Missouri State after spending the previous 14 seasons at Mizzou under Gary Pinkel. Missouri was coming of consecutive SEC East division titles when Steckel landed the job.

His best seasons at Missouri State were were 4-7 in 2016 and 2018. The Bears finished 1-10 last season.

Offensive coordinator Justin Kramer will serve as interim head coach while the school conducts a search, said Missouri State athletic director Kyle Moats.

This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 5:49 PM.

Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
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