COLUMBIA, MO. • Friday was one step forward, one step back for Barry Odom’s Missouri coaching staff.
Odom announced after the team’s practice that he’s promoted secondary coach Ryan Walters to defensive coordinator. Odom fired coordinator DeMontie Cross after the second game of the season and had gradually shifted more on Walters' plate during the year. Walters had worked under the title of co-coordinator. Odom said he still must hire a linebackers coach to replace Cross' on-field duties.
"He’s going to do an outstanding job," Odom said of Walters, who coached with Odom at Memphis then followed him to Mizzou in 2015.