Missouri releases details of assistant football coach A.J. Ricker’s contract

Missouri offensive line coach A.J. Ricker received a hefty raise in July when he left Illinois to join Gary Pinkel’s staff at his alma mater.

Ricker made $180,000 last season, according to the USA Today database of assistant coaches’ salaries, but the contract he signed July 16 with the Tigers will pay him $256,000.

Ricker, who started 47 consecutive games at center for Missouri from 2000-03 and played three seasons under Pinkel, also received a “hiring incentive” worth $32,820.63. He must remain on staff with the Tigers for two seasons or repay all or part of that signing bonus.

Bruce Walker, who retired in early July prompting Ricker’s hiring, was set to make $287,000 this season under terms announced in March, when Pinkel agreed to a contract extension through 2020 that included raises for his staff.

Pinkel’s salary went up to $3.1 million after last season’s 12-2 finish, which included an SEC Championship Game appearance and Cotton Bowl title.

Under terms of the new deals, defensive coordinator Dave Steckel is the Tigers’ highest-paid assistant at $600,000, while offensive coordinator Josh Henson receives $550,000.

Associate head coach/quarterbacks Andy Hill now makes $357,500 annually.

The other staff salaries are as follows: defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski ($299,500), cornerbacks coach Cornell Ford ($297,500), running backs coach Brian Jones ($282,500), wide receivers coach Pat Washington ($275,000) and safeties coach Alex Grinch ($251,000).

This story was originally published September 5, 2014 at 6:09 PM with the headline "Missouri releases details of assistant football coach A.J. Ricker’s contract."