Eli Drinkwitz merits confidence in his decision to appoint Corey Batoon.
As you’re currently engrossed in the opening of this article, Corey Batoon is likely acclimating to his role as Mizzou’s defensive coordinator somewhere in Columbia, Mo. Perhaps he’s attending HR seminars, completing paperwork, or engaging in FaceTime conversations with recruits!
Just a week ago, Corey Batoon might not have been on your radar, nor did you likely care about his daily activities. He wasn’t prominently featured on many lists of potential Mizzou defensive coordinator candidates. Jim Leonhard and DJ Smith were among the speculated candidates, while some even considered Jesse Minter as a possibility.
However, here stands Corey Batoon, a native Hawaiian, tasked with leading Mizzou’s “Death Row” defense. Specifically, he’s tasked with preventing a significant decline in a unit that’s losing most of its starters. Moreover, he’s expected to support an offense aiming to propel Mizzou towards a playoff bid in the inaugural year of the CFP’s 12-team format. It’s a challenging assignment, especially for a coach with limited experience as a defensive coordinator at a Power Four program.
Although there hasn’t been widespread criticism of Batoon’s appointment, there was some concern regarding the time it took for Drinkwitz to finalize the decision. Shouldn’t a program aspiring to compete for a CFP bid in 2024 secure a desired candidate more swiftly?
If you’ve been following Eli Drinkwitz and listening to “Before the Box Score,” you’d know that this process aligns with Drinkwitz’s preferences: discreet and deliberate. Drinkwitz operates clandestinely and takes his time to identify the right fit. Perhaps some of the earlier candidates were considered, or perhaps Batoon was the frontrunner all along. Maybe Drinkwitz didn’t have a clear favorite until several rounds of interviews.
This approach contrasts with the fast-paced nature of college football hiring seen elsewhere. Alabama, for instance, replaced Nick Saban in just 72 hours. Washington and Arizona made swift replacements as well. In contrast, Drinkwitz took over 500 hours to extend the offer to Batoon. Nonetheless, the method has thus far proven effective.
During Eli Drinkwitz’s tenure as Mizzou’s head coach, he’s had four coordinators, three on defense and one on offense. Each hire was met with skepticism initially. However, Ryan Walters, Steve Wilks, Blake Baker, and Kirby Moore have all advanced in their careers since working under Drinkwitz.
This isn’t to imply that Corey Batoon will follow the same trajectory as the previous coordinators. Coaching hires at this level require time to assess. Only time will determine Batoon’s impact at Mizzou. Whether he excels or falters, Eli Drinkwitz’s unconventional hiring methods deserve some trust. Despite not being a prominent candidate, Corey Batoon may indeed be the right choice, according to Drinkwitz’s track record in such matters.
