Defensive staff taking shape
A day after Barry Odom announced Josh Heupel as his offensive coordinator, the new Mizzou coach has found his defensive coordinator as well. Multiple sources tell PowerMizzou.com that the Tigers have reached an agreement with TCU co-defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross.
Mizzou confirmed the hire in a release at approximately 11:00 Friday morning.
Cross played for Missouri from 1994-96 after transferring from Illinois following his freshman year. He finished his career as the school’s all-time leading tackler with 415 over his three seasons. That mark still stands second on the Tigers’ all-time list.
"DeMontie is an outstanding addition to our staff," Odom said in the release. "He's really established himself as one of the top defensive minds in college football, and he's had success at every stop he's been at over the years. I've witnessed him on the road recruiting, he's relentless and has done a great job of establishing meaningful relationships in a number of geographic areas. I know he'll be a great mentor and leader who will relate well with our guys. I expect DeMontie to bring some great ideas and concepts defensively to us that will build on what we've been able to do this past year. Obviously he has great enthusiasm, excitement and passion for Mizzou, and we're proud to have him back here."
"I'm so excited to have this opportunity to work with Coach Odom and contribute to a place that has given me so much," Cross added. "Mizzou is in my blood, it's the place that made me the man and the coach that I am today. It's also a dream come true for me to work alongside a guy I've known for so long. Coach Odom and I have had a strong bond on and off the field, and I'm excited to come in and support him and his vision in every aspect imaginable. I'm honored he's put his trust in me this way. Mizzou has already established a good reputation on defense, so all I'm looking to do is come in and put my own twist to it and try to make it even better. My players will know that a sense of urgency, attention to detail, and playing with enthusiasm and energy are the things that are most important to me. I think people enjoy watching a defense that plays that way."
After his playing days were done, Cross began his coaching career at Mizzou leading the outside linebackers in 1998 and 1999 under Larry Smith. He moved on to FCS Sam Houston State for the 2000 season before moving on to Iowa State for five years. After that, he coached linebackers and special teams in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills for five years.
Cross made the move back to college football in 2011. He spent a year at Wisconsin and another at Kansas before being hired as TCU’s linebackers coach in January of 2013. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator prior to the 2015 season.
TCU ranked third in the Big 12 in scoring defense, fourth in total defense, fifth against the run and second against the pass this year. Cross’ linebacking corps this year was considered one of TCU’s strengths. Travin Howard and freshman Ty Summers were first and third on the Horned Frogs in tackles, respectively. Summers made a school-record 23 tackles in TCU’s win over Baylor in the last game of the regular season.
TCU, ranked 11th in the country, is set to face Oregon in the Valero Alamo Bowl on January 2nd in San Antonio. Cross will coach TCU in the bowl game. Stay tuned for more potential additions to Odom's staff.
3:46 PM UPDATE: PowerMizzou.com has also confirmed that Odom will hire Chris Wilson to coach the defensive line. That news was first reported by FootballScoop.
Wilson is a name that has been rumored around Mizzou's assistant search for some time now. Sources had indicated he was in Columbia to talk about the job with Odom earlier this week.
Wilson has coached at Oklahoma, Colorado, Mississippi State, Georgia and, most recently, USC. Wilson was hired at Southern Cal by Steve Sarkisian, but was let go along with the rest of the Trojans' defensive staff by new coach Clay Helton following this season.
Wilson was a linebacker and two-time team captain at Oklahoma from 1988-1991. His hiring would leave three vacancies on Missouri's staff.