Mizzou football coach Gary Pinkel

Mizzou football coach Gary Pinkel

Missouri Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the 2013 Maxwell Football Club Collegiate Coach of the Year. Pinkel has led Mizzou to a 9-1 overall, and atop the Southeastern Conference East Division standings at 5-1.

Mizzou enters this weekend’s game at #24 Ole Miss carrying a ranking of #8 in the latest Bowl Championship Series ranking. The Tigers must win their last two games to secure a berth in the conference championship game.

Pinkel is also closing in on becoming the winningest coach in Mizzou history. In his 13th season manning the Tiger sideline, Pinkel’s MU record is 99-62 (.615), with the win total trailing only the legendary Don Faurot, who went 101-79-10 (.558) from 1935-42, 1946-56.

Is Pinkel deserving of the award?  T.J. Fenske of KRCG-TV and I discuss the national coaching scene.

Semifinalist voting for the Maxwell Football Club Collegiate Coach of the Year award will begin on Thursday, November 21st and close on Monday December 2nd. Finalist voting will take place from December 3rd to December 15th and the winner will be announced on December 17th.