University of Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom has added Chris Wilson to his new coaching staff, as announced today. Wilson will serve as Mizzou’s defensive line coach, a position he has enjoyed great success at coaching almost exclusively during his 23-year career. Wilson has coached the position 19 of his 23 years, and has mentored some of the nation’s top linemen at programs such as Colorado, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Georgia and USC in his career.
Wilson comes to Mizzou after coaching the past two seasons at USC, where he guided star defensive end Leonard Williams to first-team All-American status in 2014. Williams went on to become the sixth overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. Overall, Wilson has coached in 13 bowl games since 2001, including the 2009 BCS National Championship, while his teams have won three conference titles during that span. Details of Wilson’s contract will be released once fully executed, along with the completion of human resources procedures.
“Chris Wilson is a great fit for our staff,” said Odom. “I’ve known of him and thought highly of him for a number of years. I’ve recruited against him, I’ve watched him at Oklahoma, Colorado, Mississippi State and Georgia and I’ve enjoyed the way he gets his guys to play with great energy and passion. He’s very passionate about coaching the defensive line and he’s got a great feel for fundamentals and understanding what it takes to mentor a group and lead them and have them playing at their best level. He’s really respected nationally as a recruiter and he’s done a great job of developing relationships in a lot of different places where we recruit in SEC territory,” he said.
| THE WILSON FILE | |
| COACHING EXPERIENCE | |
| 2014-15 | Defensive Line, USC |
| 2013 | Defensive, Line, Georgia |
| 2011-12 | Defensive Line/Defensive Coordinator, Mississippi St. |
| 2010 | Defensive Line/Co-Defensive Coordinator, Mississippi St. |
| 2007-09 | Defensive Ends/Special Teams Coordinator, Oklahoma |
| 2005-06 | Defensive Ends, Oklahoma |
| 2000-04 | Defensive Line, Colorado |
| 1998-99 | Defensive Line, Illinois State |
| 1997 | Outside Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator, Indiana State |
| 1996 | Defensive Line, NE Oklahoma |
| 1995 | Outside Linebackers, Northern Illinois |
| 1994 | Linebackers, Indiana State |
| 1993 | Graduate Assistant, Indiana State |
| PLAYING EXPERIENCE | |
| Oklahoma (Linebacker, 1988-91) | |
“I’m definitely excited about the opportunity to be at such a great institution and program as Mizzou and also to be back in the SEC,” said Wilson. “I’ve seen Mizzou in person a lot, both as a coach and a player, and I’ve always enjoyed the energy of their fan base. You can tell the football program is important to the state and their culture. What they’ve been able to accomplish as a program in their short time in the league, being in two championship games, is really impressive. I’m excited about working with Coach Odom and his staff, I see him as progressive and as an outside the box guy who is going to do big things. I understand the tradition of excellence that Mizzou has had with the defensive line, and I’m honored to come in and work hard to help give them a chance to be even better in the future,” he said.
Wilson, 46, spent 2013 as Georgia’s defensive line coach. The Bulldogs, who played in the 2014 Gator Bowl, were 28th nationally in sacks in 2013.
He spent the previous three seasons (2010-12) at Mississippi State handling the defensive line. He also was the Bulldogs’ co-defensive coordinator in 2010 before becoming defensive coordinator the final two years. In 2010, MSU was 15th nationally in rushing defense and 17th in tackles for a loss. The Bulldogs improved in seven defensive statistical categories in 2011, including ranking 16th nationally in scoring defense (19.7), tied for eighth in fumble recoveries and tied for 14th in interceptions. Defensive lineman Fletcher Cox was a 2011 All-American and an NFL first round draft pick. MSU played in the 2011 and 2013 Gator Bowls and 2011 Music City Bowl.
Wilson came to Mississippi State after five seasons (2005-09) coaching the defensive ends at Oklahoma, his alma mater. He also was the special teams coordinator the final three years there. The Sooners led the Big 12 in sacks in 2007 and then in 2009 they were eighth nationally in rushing defense and total defense and seventh in scoring defense. Oklahoma played in the 2005 Holiday Bowl, 2007 and 2008 Fiesta Bowls, 2009 BCS Championship Game and 2009 Sun Bowl.
Before that, he was Colorado’s defensive line coach for five years (2000-04). The Buffaloes won three Big 12 North titles during that time and were 15th nationally in sacks in 2004. Colorado played in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl, 2002 Alamo Bowl and 2004 Houston Bowl.
He was the defensive line coach at Illinois State for two seasons (1998-99), with the Redbirds winning the Gateway Conference title and advancing to the NCAA Division I-AA semifinals in 1999. He then handled the same duty in the spring of 2000 at Army before going to Colorado.
Wilson began his coaching career in 1993 as a graduate assistant at Indiana State, then became the Sycamores’ linebackers coach in 1994. He handled the outside linebackers at Northern Illinois in 1995, then was the defensive line coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College in 1996 before returning to Indiana State in 1997 as the outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator.
He had NFL minority internships with the Dallas Cowboys (1995), Arizona Cardinals (1997) and Miami Dolphins (1998).
A Richardson, Texas native, Wilson was a four-year (1988-91) letterman linebacker at Oklahoma, recording 303 career tackles. He twice was named team captain, and was a member of Sooner squads that played in the 1989 Citrus Bowl and 1991 Gator Bowl. He was a 12th round NFL Draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 1992.
Wilson earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Oklahoma in 1992. He and his wife, Tina, have a son, Caleb, and a daughter, Colby.
