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A.J. Ofodile gets a promotion

Here are today’s Mizzou Links.

By Bill Connelly

Anselm Aniagboso Ofodile, Jr. was a three-year letterman at Missouri. He caught 55 balls for 589 yards and four touchdowns in 1993, as Missouri briefly showed promise in Bob Stull’s final season, opening the season with a 31-3 win over Illinois. They fell 73-0 to Texas A&M the next week, however, and finished 3-7-1.

Stull was fired, and Ofodile went pro, bouncing around in different leagues until 2001. He took over as Columbia Rock Bridge High head coach in 2003, when Barry Odom took a job with Mizzou, and he agreed to work for his alma mater in 2016, becoming Odom’s Director of Recruiting Operations.

On Monday, Odom made a predictable move.

Given the opportunity to hire a 10th full-time, on-field assistant, Odom promoted Ofodile.

University of Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom has promoted Mizzou alum A.J. Ofodile (owe-FAH-delay) to the position of assistant coach, as announced today. Ofodile, who has served the past two seasons on Odom’s staff in the crucial role of director of recruiting operations, will shift to an on-field role with his alma mater as the program’s 10th assistant. Details of Ofodile’s contract will be released once fully executed, along with his duties.

”A.J. has been a very vital member of our staff the past two years,” said Odom. “I’ve leaned on his input in a lot of areas, and he’s constantly made our program better. He’s a loyal guy who cares about our kids and making Mizzou the best it can be. I’m excited to have him on board with our coaching staff, and am looking forward to how he can help us improve. His career as a player at the college and NFL levels will be very valuable as well as his previous coaching experience. The past two years overseeing our recruiting department has provided great results for us on the field, and he will certainly continue those efforts in his new role,” he said.

Assume a special teams role.

It is not clear at this time what position group Ofodile will coach, but his new job is likely to include work with special teams, according to a source.

And since there’s been quite a bit of turnover, here’s a refresher:

Barring more staff turnover, here’s how Odom’s staff looks for 2018:

Derek Dooley, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks

Andy Hill, associate head coach/receivers

Cornell Ford, assistant head coach/running backs

Joe Jon Finley, tight ends

Brad Davis, offensive line

Ryan Walters, defensive coordinator/secondary

Brick Haley, defensive line

Vernon Hargreaves, inside linebackers

Brian Odom, outside linebackers

A.J. Ofodile, assistant coach

Ofodile is a Michigan guy who played a role in bringing a few Michiganders to Columbia in the last couple recruiting classes. Initial reaction to his promotion (whatever the specifics end up being) is mostly positive. Here’s to hoping that means good things for Mizzou moving forward.

More Links:

  • This could be interpreted in a few different ways, but ... whether he was a backup backup option or whatever, here’s to hoping Derek Dooley works out.

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