University of Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom has recruited Josh Heupel to join his new coaching staff, as announced today. Heupel will serve as Mizzou's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
"I am very grateful to Coach Odom for this opportunity," said Heupel in a press release issued by the university. "First and foremost I believe in the person Barry Odom is and what he stands for. I believe in the vision that he has for this program. I have a lot of respect for Mizzou and the football program, as someone who's seen it from an outsider's perspective for a long time. I believe this is a special place that has just scratched the surface of what it can be, and it's a program that is capable of winning championships on a consistent basis. I want to be part of that. I think it's a great time to be at Mizzou, and I'm excited to get there and to go to work."
Heupel brings with him an impressive track record of success, including four national championship game appearances, seven BCS bowl games and coaching oversight of two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks. He has 13 years of coaching and recruiting experience at the highest level, including the last five seasons as offensive coordinator and play caller at Oklahoma and Utah State. Heupel is currently finishing his first season as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach with Utah State, and will join the Mizzou staff shortly after the conclusion of the Aggies' bowl game on Dec. 22 against Akron in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Details of Heupel's contract will be released once fully executed, along with the completion of human resources procedures.
"I'm really pleased to have someone the caliber of Josh Heupel join our staff," said Odom. "I've known him for a long time and have always respected him highly, as a player, a coach, a recruiter and a coordinator. I've been impressed by the offenses that he runs, they're very difficult to defend, and his achievements speak for themselves. He's a high-character person who has the type of leadership abilities that will be outstanding for our program, and he's exactly what we're looking for. We're excited to have him on board."
The upcoming bowl game will mean that Heupel has been part of 13 bowl games and six conference championship teams since beginning his coaching career in 2003, including 11 seasons on staff at his alma mater Oklahoma (2003-04, 2006-14). During his coaching tenure at OU, the Sooners played in three national championship games (2003, 2004 and 2008 seasons), and Heupel helped mentor two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks in Jason White (2003) and Sam Bradford (2008), while a third, Landry Jones, won the Sammy Baugh Award in 2010 as the nation's top passer. Heupel's name also carries a lot of clout in recruiting circles due to his prowess as a quarterback during his playing days, when he led Oklahoma to the BCS National Championship in 2000, while finishing as the Heisman runner-up that season.
