GARY PINKEL

Gary Pinkel was born on April 27, 1952, in Akron, Ohio - the same state he'd begin his coaching career two decades later. At Kent State, where he played with Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Pinkel was a two-time all-conference tight end and team captain. He worked as a graduate assistant in 1974-75 at his alma mater, until he moved on to work at the same position for the University of Washington (1976). Later, he moved on as a wide receivers coach for Bowling Green State University (1977-78). Pinkel returned to Washington in 1979, where he was an assistant coach for 11 years under his mentor and former Kent State coach, Don James... In only a few short years, we have been able to provide over $390,000 in scholarships to low-income seniors, and we have distributed more than $285,000 in grants to local Missouri organizations like Love Columbia, Special Learning Center, MU Health Care, Camp Wonderland, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, United Community Builders, and many, many more. And..