Sterk informally discussed potential MU coaches with some curators; search is ongoing
In the thick of his first football coaching search at Mizzou, athletic director Jim Sterk has informally brought a list of potential hires to university administrators and a few members of the University of Missouri System Board of Curators, a source told The Star.
The list to succeed Barry Odom, who was fired Saturday, included Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson, Army coach Jeff Monken, Nevada coach Jay Norvell and Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz, according to the source.
Jon Sundvold, chairman of the Board of Curators, confirmed on Twitter that the coaching search is ongoing.
“The Board of Curators have not met to discuss the search for a new football coach at Mizzou,” Sundvold wrote on Twitter. “The search continues and remains confidential to respect the privacy of all individuals involved.”
Anderson, 50, was considered to be on the Tigers’ short list of potential hires, a source said. The current Arkansas State coach has a record of 46-30 along with two conference championships.
According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, some members of the board were not thrilled with Sterk’s initial list. They reportedly feared negative public reaction if a strong candidate is not secured to follow Odom, a Mizzou alum who had a 25-25 record in four years, including two bowl appearances and a third season in which the Tigers posted a bowl-eligible record.
The hiring of MU’s next football coach is subject to the curators’ approval.
When Sterk fired Odom, lack of attendance at home football games was considered a factor. Sterk said “tremendous momentum” had been established ahead of the 2019 season, only for it to fizzle during the Tigers’ five-game losing streak.
Monken has a 40-35 record in six years at Army; Holtz compiled a 55-30 record in seven years at Louisiana Tech; and Norvell has an 18-19 record through three years at Nevada.
Other possible candidates include Tulane coach Willie Fritz, Central Michigan coach Jim McElwain and Charlotte coach Will Healy.
At the onset of the search on Nov. 30, Sterk said he hoped to make a hire within two weeks ahead of the early signing period Dec. 18-20.