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Missouri Football: Top 10 potential candidates to replace Barry Odom

By Dante Pryor

COLUMBIA, MO - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Barry Odom of the Missouri Tigers leads the team onto the field prior to the start of the game against the Eastern Michigan Eagles at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Barry Odom of the Missouri Tigers leads the team onto the field prior to the start of the game against the Eastern Michigan Eagles at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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BLACKSBURG, VA – SEPTEMBER 30: (L-R) Clemson Tigers defensive coordinator Brent Venables and Virginia Tech Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster talk on the field after their game at Lane Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA – SEPTEMBER 30: (L-R) Clemson Tigers defensive coordinator Brent Venables and Virginia Tech Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster talk on the field after their game at Lane Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /

Power Five coordinators

All these are defensive coordinators which might go against what Missouri wants to do, but there are too many talented Group of Five coaches that are offensive gurus. These guys are great at what they do, and can keep the defensive attitude of the Tigers going.

5. Brent Venables, Clemson

You call Brent Venables because he’s from this part of the country, and he’d be taking over a program with a defensive pedigree. Venables has a wonderful situation in Clemson. No one knows if he wants to be a head coach, and is waiting for his kids to finish high school to make that move, or if he sees himself like Bud Foster at Virginia Tech. He’s been so good for so long at Clemson, it’s hard to know if he’d leave, but it’s a call you have to make.

4. Alex Grinch, Oklahoma

Alex Grinch, like Josh Heupel, had his coaching start at Missouri. He was Gary Pinkel’s safties coach before becoming a defensive coordinator. The college football world took notice of Grinch while he was defensive coordinator at Washington State. Since his time in Pullman, he’s been at both Ohio State and Oklahoma where he’s improved what was one of the worst defenses in the country this season.

One of the knocks of the Barry Odom regime was the distance he put between himself and Pinkel. That wouldn’t be an issue for Grinch since he’s Pinkel’s nephew.

3. Brick Haley, Missouri

Brick Haley is currently the interim head coach at Missouri. He deserves consideration because of how quickly he’s risen through the ranks. Before taking on the responsibility of steadying the ship at Mizzou, he was the senior associate head coach. Haley came to Missouri from Texas and before that it was LSU. He coached the likes of Michael Brockers and Barkevious Mingo.

Missouri might shy away from promoting someone without any previous head coaching experience. He’s a 30-year coaching veteran who’s been around and paid his dues. At the same time, however, there’s a reason they chose him to steady the ship through this process.

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