Eliah Drinkwitz

Eliah Walter Drinkwitz (born April 12, 1983) is an American college football coach who is the head football coach at the University of Missouri, a position he has held since the 2020 season. He previously served as the head coach at Appalachian State University in 2019; prior to this, he served as an assistant coach for NC State, Boise State, Arkansas State, and Auburn.

After coaching at Springdale High School (Arkansas), where he coached with Gus Malzahn in 2004, Drinkwitz moved to Auburn in 2009 to work on football operations as the quality control coach, and was on the coaching staff when Auburn won the 2010 National Championship under Gene Chizik.

In 2012, after two successful seasons with Auburn, he followed Gus Malzahn to Arkansas State, where he spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons as running backs coach, and in 2013 also served as co-offensive coordinator.

In 2014, when Arkansas State head coach Bryan Harsin became head coach at Boise State, Drinkwitz joined his staff as the tight ends coach. In 2015, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

In 2016, Drinkwitz was named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at NC State. He served in this position for three seasons, during which he won two bowl games and won 25 games. The Wolfpack also finished at #23 in the AP Poll in 2017.

On December 13, 2018, Drinkwitz was hired as the head coach at Appalachian State University. In his one season as head coach of the Mountaineers, he finished 12–1, with a victory over Louisiana in the 2019 Sun Belt championship. He did not coach their bowl game.

On December 9, 2019, Drinkwitz was hired as the head coach of the Missouri Tigers, replacing Barry Odom. In his first season with Mizzou, the Tigers compiled a record of 5–5, including a win over defending national champion LSU, who also finished 5-5. In the 2021 season, Drinkwitz led Missouri to a 6–6 regular season record and an appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl, a 24–22 loss to Army. In the 2022 season, Drinkwitz again led Missouri to a 6–6 regular season record. Missouri qualified for the Gasparilla Bowl, where they lost to Wake Forest 27–17. Drinkwitz led the Tigers to a breakout season in 2023, finishing the regular season 10–2 overall and 6–2 in the SEC. Missouri as a result would be selected to play the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl, which Missouri won 14–3. On December 31, 2023, the University of Missouri announced a contract extension for Drinkwitz through the 2028 season which included a pay raise to $9 million for the 2024 season.

Missouri enjoyed continued success under Drinkwitz in 2024. In the regular season, Missouri finished 9-3 and set a program record for the most home wins in a season by going 7-0 at Faurot Field. After trailing 24-14 in the second half against Iowa, Mizzou scored the final 13 points to win the 2024 Music City Bowl . Mizzou finished with back to back 10 win seasons for the first time since 2013/2014.