Glen Elarbee (photo/Arkansas State Athletics)

Glen Elarbee (photo/Arkansas State Athletics)

Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom has added Glen Elarbee to his new coaching staff.  Elarbee will serve as Mizzou’s offensive line coach, a position he has coached successfully for the past six seasons at several programs, including the last two while also serving as co-offensive coordinator at Arkansas State.  In 2015 the Red Wolves went a perfect 8-0 in Sun Belt Conference play to win the league championship and earn a bid to the New Orleans Bowl, thanks largely to an offensive line which paved the way as ASU ranked 12th nationally in scoring offense (40.0 avg.) and 15th in the nation in rushing (231.3 ypg).

“I’ve had a chance to coach against Glen in three of the last four seasons, and after every game we played I came away with a lot of respect for how his group played,” said Odom.  “He’s been around a lot of very successful offenses that from my first-hand experience play with great toughness and attention to detail.  Glen also has strong recruiting relationships in areas that are important to us – he grew up in Georgia and has recruited there and in the southeast region heavily, as well as in Texas, and that will bring value to our staff.  I know Glen is excited to get going here, and we’re excited to have him,” he said.

Odom faced off against Elarbee this past season when Mizzou won at Arkansas State.  The two also matched wits in 2012 and 2013 when Odom was at Memphis, and while Elarbee was at Middle Tennessee (2012) and Houston (2013).

“I’m really grateful for this opportunity,” said Elarbee.  “I’ve seen Mizzou firsthand several times at various stops and have always been impressed with the support they have and the environment their fans create.  Obviously, I had a chance to go up against Coach Odom several times recently, and I have the utmost respect for what he’s done defensively.  I thought each time he was always one of the biggest challenges we faced schematically.  Personally, I’ve gotten to know him on the road recruiting and am really impressed with the kind of person he is.  Having a chance to work with a guy like him is a no brainer, and I’m excited to get up there and get to work with this staff,” he said.

Despite having to replace four starters in 2014, Elarbee’s first season at A-State saw his offensive line pave the way for a school-record 6,194 yards of total offense, averaging 476 yards per game that ranked 20th in the nation.  He quickly molded the group into a unit that produced record-breaking results as ASU established new school standards for points (477) and touchdowns (65).  The Red Wolves’ offense ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation in numerous statistical categories while working behind the line, including scoring offense (No. 18), total offense and rushing offense (No. 25).

Behind Elarbee’s line, which included just two senior starters, A-State recorded at least 300 yards in every game, over 400 in nine contests and at least 500 in five outings.  The Red Wolves exploded for a school and Sun Belt Conference record 764 yards total offense in their regular-season finale against New Mexico State, which was also the seventh most in the nation for a single game.

Prior to A-State, Elarbee most recently spent the 2013 season as the offensive line coach for the University of Houston, helping lead the Cougars to an 8-5 record and an appearance in the BBVA Compass Bowl.  Elarbee was part of the offensive staff that helped the Cougars average 420 yards of total offense, including 280 passing yards per game that ranked 26th in the nation.  Houston also ranked 38th in the nation scoring offense with 33.2 points per game.

His lone season at Houston saw him tutor starting left tackle DeAnthony Sims, who earned all-league recognition from the American Athletic Conference after playing a total of 899 offensive snaps with 36 knockdown blocks.  Sims was part of an offense that ranked second in the AAC in scoring and fourth in sacks allowed.

Elarbee served as Middle Tennessee’s offensive line coach in 2012 before joining the Houston staff.  The Blue Raiders’ offensive line ranked second nationally in fewest sacks allowed under Elarbee, giving up just seven on 344 pass attempts.  The group, which included All-Sun Belt performer Micah James, also helped lead the way for three different 100-yard rushers.

Prior to his time at MTSU, Elarbee spent two seasons at West Georgia, first as the offensive line coach in 2010 before being elevated to offensive coordinator in 2011.  At UWG, wide receiver and return specialist Denarius Appling earned All-America honors in 2011 and was one of three offensive players to receive all-conference honors.  The 2010 season saw offensive tackle Brandon White named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year.

The Carrollton, Ga., native has additional experience coaching in bowl games as he spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as an offensive graduate assistant at Oklahoma State and the 2007 campaign in the same role on the staff of an LSU team that captured the BCS National Championship.  The 2008 Oklahoma State offense ranked among the top 10 teams nationally in rushing, total offense, scoring and pass efficiency while the 2007 LSU squad scored at least 40 points in seven games.

Elarbee spent the 2006 season as the offensive line coach at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., after a year as Middle Tennessee’s tight ends coach in 2005.  Elarbee began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for his alma mater MTSU in the 2003 and 2004 seasons, when he worked alongside current Arkansas State Head Coach Blake Anderson, who served as the Blue Raiders co-offensive coordinator at the time