Eliah Drinkwitz

Eliah Walter Drinkwitz

Arkansas State In 2012, after two successful seasons with Auburn, he followed Gus Malzahn to Arkansas State, where he spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons as running backs coach, and in 2013 also served as co-offensive coordinator.

Boise State In 2014, when Arkansas State head coach Bryan Harsin became head coach at Boise State, Drinkwitz joined his staff as the tight ends coach. In 2015, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

NC State In 2016, Drinkwitz was named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at NC State. He served in this position for three seasons, during which he won two bowl games and won 25 games. The Wolfpack also finished at #23 in the AP Poll in 2017.

Appalachian State On December 13, 2018, Drinkwitz was hired as the head coach at Appalachian State University. In his one season as head coach of the Mountaineers, he finished 12–1, with a victory over Louisiana in the 2019 Sun Belt championship. He did not coach their bowl game.

Missouri On December 9, 2019, Drinkwitz was hired as the head coach of the Missouri Tigers, replacing Barry Odom. In his first season with Mizzou, the Tigers compiled a record of 5–5, including a win over defending national champion LSU, who also finished 5-5. In the 2021 season, Drinkwitz led Missouri to a 6–6 regular season record and an appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl, a 24–22 loss to Army. In the 2022 season, Drinkwitz again led Missouri to a 6–6 regular season record. Missouri qualified for the Gasparilla Bowl, where they lost to Wake Forest 27–17. Drinkwitz led the Tigers to a breakout season in 2023, finishing the regular season 10–2 overall and 6–2 in the SEC. Missouri as a result would be selected to play the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl, which Missouri won 14–3. On December 31, 2023, the University of Missouri announced a contract extension for Drinkwitz through the 2028 season which included a pay raise to $9 million for the 2024 season.

Missouri enjoyed continued success under Drinkwitz in 2024. In the regular season, Missouri finished 9-3 and set a program record for the most home wins in a season by going 7-0 at Faurot Field. After trailing 24-14 in the second half against Iowa, Mizzou scored the final 13 points to win the 2024 Music City Bowl. Mizzou finished with back to back 10 win seasons for the first time since 2013/2014.

On November 28, 2025, Drinkwitz signed a six-year, $64.5 million contract extension while he was rumored to be a candidate for several head coach openings including LSU, Auburn, Florida, and Penn State. Missouri ended the 2025 regular season with an 8-4 record and lost the Gator Bowl to Virginia.

Personal life Drinkwitz was born in Norman, Oklahoma to Jerry and Susie Drinkwitz, but his parents and older siblings moved to the Alma, Arkansas area in 1984 when he was a year old. Being raised in Alma and playing football for the Alma Airedales is what led him to want to become a football coach, especially hearing the stories of his father playing for Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, during the 1960s. During his time at Alma, he was an All-Conference and All-State selection and was named FCA Huddle Leader of the Year. Drinkwitz graduated from Alma in 2001 and was nominated by his high school to the Arkansas Times Academic All-Star Team.

In 2004, Drinkwitz graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a bachelor's degree in education. Drinkwitz and his wife, Lindsey, have four children.

Head coaching record