Nov 5, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel looks on prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
An emotional Missouri coach Gary Pinkel fought back tears at his press conference Monday at Mizzou Arena after his announcement last week that he would retire at the end of the 2015 season for health reasons related to a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer.
Pinkel said he will miss his players the most when he leaves after 15 seasons at Missouri.
“The toughest thing about this …” said Pinkel, choking up, “is my players. I’m going to miss them. Being around them, scolding them when I have to, hugging them and touching them every day. I’m going to miss being around my players.
“I told my players, ‘I’m going to have your phone forever and you’re going to have mine.’ Call me any time.”
The 63-year-old Pinkel will remain as coach through Dec. 31 or until the school hires his replacement. Pinkel informed his players Friday that he would be resigning in order to focus on his health.
Nov 5, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel looks on prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Pinkel was diagnosed with lymphoma in May and first underwent treatments in May and June.
Among those in the audience at Monday’s press conference was Michael Sam, who starred at Missouri before becoming the first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team.
Pinkel is the most successful head coach in the history of the Missouri program, leading the school to a 118-71 record, including the 20-16 come-from-behind win over Brigham Young on Saturday as the 5-5 Tigers snapped a four-game losing streak. Before becoming Missouri’s coach, Pinkel spent 10 season at Toledo and compiled a 73-37-3 record. His career mark is 191-108-3.
“When you get cancer, it’s so numbing,” Pinkel said Monday. “I’d been so blessed with my health. You’re driving around for a week, you look at yourself in the rear-view mirror and say, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ For me, it was profound. I’ve seen all these different people getting treatments. I’ve heard, coming down the road, someone saying, ‘Would you rather die on a football field or on a beach?’ I’d rather die on a beach.”
