One and done: Heupel hired at Mizzou

The University of Missouri announced Thursday that Josh Heupel will be its new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Heupel is currently Utah State’s offensive coordinator and will finish out the season with the Aggies by coaching in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 22. Heupel spent just one season at USU. Prior to that, he coached at Oklahoma, his alma matter, for 11 years.

Heupel will join new Tigers’ head coach Barry Odom on Mizzou’s staff. Odom was hired earlier this month following the announcement of Gary Pinkel’s retirement.

“I am very grateful to Coach Odom for this opportunity,” Heupel said. “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 will help Odom and Missouri transition out of the Pinkel era. Pinkel coached the Tigers for 14 years and is the winningest coach in program history.

“I’m really pleased to have someone the caliber of Josh Heupel join our staff,” Odom said. “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.”

Under Heupel USU averaged 29.7 points per game, ranking 60th in the country in scoring.