Missouri Tigers football team makes official its hire of new coach for offensive line

The Missouri Tigers officially have a new offensive line coach.

Brandon Jones, whose hire was believed to be in the works last week, is a 15-plus year veteran of the coaching industry, having spent time on the staffs of Sonny Dykes, Dana Holgorsen, Kliff Kingsbury and Lincoln Riley.

Jones, who replaces Marcus Johnson, who left Missouri for the same position at Purdue, most recently spent four seasons at the University of Houston, where he coached the offensive line and served as the co-offensive coordinator (2019-20) and run game coordinator (2021-22).

Jones was fired following a year in which Houston dropped to 8-5 after going 12-2 in 2021. Houston begins play in the Big 12 this fall.

“Brandon and his offensive line units have been a major factor in a number of high-powered offenses over the past decade in college football,” Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a school news release. “Adding a veteran coach with Brandon’s background will be a tremendous asset.”

Six players coached by Jones are currently playing in the NFL: Jack Anderson (New York Giants), Dawson Deaton (Cleveland), Josh Jones (Arizona), Patrick Mekari (Baltimore), Kody Russey (New England) and Terence Steele (Dallas).

“I’m extremely thankful to Coach Drinkwitz for this opportunity,” Jones said in the school’s release announcing the hire. “As a college coach, you set your sights on competing against the best, and at Missouri and in the SEC you get to do that every day.”

The list of those singing Jones’ praises upon hearing of his hire is a long one.

“Brandon is one of the top offensive line coaches in college football,” former Texas Tech coach Kingsbury said in the MU news release. “Everywhere he has been, he has done a phenomenal job recruiting and developing NFL[caliber offensive linemen.

“He has been a part of many of the top offenses in college football over the years, and I know he will help Mizzou reach those same heights. Brandon is a tremendous coach and an even better person, and the university of Missouri is lucky to have him on board.”

Said TCU coach Dykes, who coached Jones at Texas Tech and had him on staff as an assistant at Cal: “He is an extremely intelligent, humble and hardworking individual who cares deeply about his players and makes them better in all aspects of the game.

“He is also an excellent recruiter. Brandon will be a great addition to Missouri. I’m very excited for him to have this opportunity.”

Jones finished his playing career at Texas Tech in 2006. After two years there as an offensive assistant — and a season at Sam Houston State coaching running backs and tight ends — he got his first job as offensive line coach at East Carolina in 2010.

He headed to Cal as offensive line coach and run-game coordinator in 2015 and 2016 before returning to his alma mater to coach the Red Raiders’ offensive line in 2017. Houston head coach Holgorsen pried him away in 2019 and promoted him to run-game coordinator in 2021.

Last season, Pro Football Focus rated Houston as the top pass-blocking team in Division I college football. UH ranked 78th in rushing offense last season, with 141.8 yards per game.

Houston was 49th in sacks allowed last season with 1.77. That mark was well ahead of the Tigers’, who finished tied for 65th with 2.08 per game.

Mizzou opens the 2023 season against South Dakota on Sept. 2 at Faurot Field.

Matt Stahl of the Columbia Daily Tribune contributed to this report.