Report: Eli Drinkwitz's salary increases to $6 million after new contract extension

Missouri has made Eli Drinkwitz a very happy man with the extension they agreed to last week.

The financials have finally been released, and Drinkwitz is receiving a sizable raise, per Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispach.

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“Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz not only got a contract extension but a significant raise,” wrote Matter. “Under his newly signed deal, Drinkwitz’s salary will increase from $4 million to $6 million next season with incremental raises each year, peaking at $7 million in the final season. The Post-Dispatch obtained the contract through an open records request.

“The new contract makes Drinkwitz the highest paid coach in Mizzou history – in any sport. Former football coach Gary Pinkel, soon to be inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, was making $4.02 million when he retired after the 2015 season.”

Originally, Drinkwitz came to Missouri after just one season as a head coach prior, a 12-1 season as the leader of the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Thus far in three seasons with the Tigers, Drinkwitz has amassed a record of 15-17, and Missouri is 4-5 on the season at the moment.

Additionally, Drinkwitz is still looking of his first bowl victory with the Tigers, but it’s evident Missouri believes the coach can get them to where they believe the program can go.

It’s been an uneven start to his tenure, but Eli Drinkwitz is indisputably highly regarded by decision makers at Missouri, and he’ll be given ample time and money to build the program the right way.

Paul Finebaum reacts to Eli Drinkwitz extension at Missouri

Furthermore, while recapping the wild week that was Week 10 of the college football season, Paul Finebaum provided his reaction to Drinkwitz’s Missouri contract extension on Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic’s show on Monday.

“I’ll say this about Drinkwitz, this is what we talk about so often, other than a recruiting advantage, I don’t think it matters a whole lot in this case, what exactly is in that contract, I guess is my question, and what’s the purpose of it,” Finebaum said on Mac and Cube in the Morning. “When you give an extension, as an athletic director, you might want to look at the schedule and give one when you know the team is going to win that week.

“It’s just a bad look. You get absolutely nothing out of it. The only reason for an extension in the middle of the season is to shore down some recruits who are thinking maybe the coach won’t be there in two-three years.”

Thus far in three seasons with the Tigers, Drinkwitz has amassed a record of 15-17 and Missouri is 4-5 on the season after Saturday’s loss to Kentucky.