Mizzou’s Barry Odom adds new offensive line coach to his football staff

Barry Odom has filled a second vacancy on his coaching staff in as many days.

After announcing the hiring of Vernon Hargreaves as an inside linebackers coach on Thursday, Missouri announced the addition of Brad Davis as the program’s next offensive line coach on Friday. Details of Davis’ contract have not yet been released, but the man he replaced, Glen Elarbee, earned $360,000 in annual base salary.

Elarbee followed former Mizzou offensive coordinator Josh Heupel to Central Florida. Elarbee is now the Golden Knights’ offensive line coach under incoming head coach Heupel. The move comes a week to the date Elarbee’s departure was announced. Odom said he was “indifferent” about Elarbee’s departure.

Davis was Florida’s offensive line coach this season but wasn’t retained by new Gators coach Dan Mullen after Mullen replaced former coach Jim McElwain, whom the school fired during the season.

“I’m very pleased to have Brad and his family join our program,” Odom said in a statement. “He’s a tremendous teacher and mentor, and he’s been lights out on the recruiting trail with his approach to building true relationships with kids. Brad has experience in the SEC and he has worked hard to earn a great amount of respect among his peers. I’m excited to have him with us, and I know he is going to do a great job helping us move forward offensively and continue building.”

Missouri’s offensive line was one of the best in the country this year. The Tigers led the nation in fewest tackles for loss allowed and was top-10 in fewest sacks allowed.

“For me, the opportunity to join his program and to continue the mission that he started there, I couldn’t be more excited to do that,” Davis said in a statement. “I can’t wait to get to work; I can’t wait to help these guys continue the path they’ve been on. I’m excited to get there and to meet all the linemen; they’ve done a fantastic job this year, and I certainly want to continue the trend of keeping these guys going the right direction and getting better daily.”

Like a few of Missouri’s other coaches, Davis played at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops. He was an offensive lineman for the Sooners. Missouri defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, outside linebackers coach Brian Odom and tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley also played or coached for the Sooners.

Coincidentally, Missouri’s interim offensive line coach, Jon Cooper, is another former Sooners offensive lineman. Missouri’s current offensive linemen had been advocating for Cooper to replace Elarbee permanently.

Throughout his career, Davis has coached 13 all-conference linemen and one All-America. Before he was at Florida, Davis coached at North Texas, East Carolina and FCS powerhouse James Madison for a season each. Current North Texas offensive coordinator Graham Harrell is rumored to be a candidate for the Tigers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach vacancy, both of which Odom has yet to fill. He could hire someone to fill both roles — that’s what Heupel did when he was at MU.

And Odom will have another opening on his staff soon. Effective Jan. 9, 2018, NCAA rules will allow programs to have 10 assistant coaches.

This story was originally published December 15, 2017 at 4:20 PM with the headline "Mizzou’s Barry Odom adds new offensive line coach to his football staff."