The winningest football coach in Mizzou history is up for this honor for the first time
Former Missouri Tigers coach Gary Pinkel is on the 2021 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.
The ballot was emailed to more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers. Voters will deliberate upon 78 players and seven coaches on the Football Bowl Subdivision ballot.
Pinkel is listed on the ballot with fellow coaches Bob Stoops, Jim Carlen, Larry Blakeney, Pete Cawthon, Billy Jack Murphy, Darryl Rogers.
Coaches become eligible three seasons after retirement or immediately upon retirement if they’re at least 70 years old. They must have coached a minimum of 10 years, at least 100 games, and earned a .600 winning percentage.
Pinkel, the winningest coach at Mizzou and Toledo, finished his career with a 191-110-3 record. His Mizzou record stands at 118-73, including some of the best seasons in MU history. It’s Pinkel’s first time appearing on the ballot after a lengthy 39 seasons coaching.
Pinkel won nine conference division titles between the two schools and a 7-4 record in 11 postseason bowl trips. He was named Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2007 and SEC Coach of the Year in 2014.
He retired after the 2015 season having spent 15 years at Mizzou after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 11:05 AM.