There is no doubt Mizzou Football’s offense has left something to be desired this season. While 294 yards of total offense against the Georgia Bulldogs defense, which is ranked 12th in the nation, is quite impressive, Mizzou’s 375 yards per game and 13 offensive touchdowns this season needs improvement. 

The Tigers have plenty of weapons on offense like Sophomore star wide receiver Dominic Lovett and Freshman receiver Luther Burden. Lovett leads the SEC in receiving yards, even after missing most of the second half Saturday night, but the highly touted recruit Burden has struggled to receive targets, as even Eli Drinkwitz acknowledged Burden’s early struggles.

Drinkwitz, in his third season as head coach of the Missouri Tigers, has called plays for all 28 games he has coached. In the Spring, Drinkwitz handed play calling duties to his assistants, but when week one rolled around Drinkwitz assumed the duties for the first game against Louisiana Tech and has continued since. The offense in the spring game compared to the offense we have seen so far this season is noticeably different, with the spring playbook seemingly being more open and the current playbook being a repeat of the last three years of Missouri Tigers football. 

There comes a time when head coaches must give up play calling duties and appoint or hire an offensive coordinator. With 28 games under his belt and a 13-15 record, Drinkwitz’s need for an offensive coordinator seems more obvious than ever. This is not to say the current playbook can not work in the future, but to have another voice in the ear of Drinkwitz could prove to have massive dividends for the Missouri Tigers. Below are options I believe the Missouri Athletic Department and Eli Drinkwitz should consider for the position. 

Bush Hamdan – Current Mizzou QBs Coach

Hamdan, who called plays in the spring for the Tigers, has shifted to coaching just the quarterbacks this year; coaching the quarterbacks and receivers before that. Hamdan’s close relationship with the quarterback room would prove to be a benefit if appointed to offensive coordinator. He has seen success everywhere he has been: at the University of Washington he was an offensive quality control analyst and when later promoted wide receiver coach and pass game coordinator. In his tenure at Washington, the Huskies won a pair of Pac-12 championships in 2016 and 2018, and reached the College Football Playoffs in 2016. In a single season with the Atlanta Falcons as quarterbacks coach, he helped coach Matt Ryan and the Falcons to a 10-6 record. 

Hamdan seems like the most obvious hire, as he is already affiliated with the Missouri Tigers and has had success as an offensive coordinator before in college football. 

Paul Chryst  – Former Wisconsin Head Coach

Chryst was fired from Wisconsin after their 34-10 loss to Illinois this past weekend. However in his tenure as the Badgers head coach, he led Wisconsin to three Big10 West division titles and was Big10 coach of the year twice, and has an overall record of 67-26. Chryst’s Badgers offense averaged 393 yards per game over eight seasons, while having plenty of success at the running back position with current Indianapolis Colts Jonathan Taylor and Corey Clement and with current Badgers’ running back Braelon Allen.

Chryst will most likely have another head coaching job next season, but it is worth considering him as a candidate for offensive coordinator at Mizzou. 

Scott Frost – Former Nebraska Head Coach

The 47 year-old was fired earlier this year after Nebraska’s poor start to the season. Frost may have been promoted to head coach a little too early in his career, which is why I believe he should transition back into an offensive coordinator. His 35-38 coaching record may not be impressive, but his two seasons as the head coach of Central Florida most definitely were, going 19-7 with a 13-win undefeated 2017 season. Before Frost was hired at Central Florida, he was the offensive coordinator of the Oregon Ducks from 2013-2015, during which the Ducks went 33-8 and reached the National Championship in 2014. 

With the weapons that the Missouri Tigers have on offense and the potential recruits coming for the 2023 football season, it would be interesting to see what Frost could do as a part of the Mizzou coaching staff.

While there has been no official news of the Missouri Tigers looking for an offensive coordinator, the three coaches above could potentially be candidates for the job if Missouri does begin a search.