Five Saturdays from now, Missouri will open year two of the Barry Odom era against one of his professional mentors.
Dave Steckel served as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator from 2009-14 on former coach Gary Pinkel’s staff.
Before that, Steckel spent eight seasons as Mizzou’s linebackers coach, while Odom worked in various capacities on Pinkel’s staff from 2003-11.
After three seasons at Memphis as defensive coordinator, Odom returned to Columbia in 2015 as Steckel’s successor after he left to become the head coach at Missouri State.
When Pinkel retired, Odom was elevated to the Tigers’ top job.