Mizzou announces the hiring of Fresno State OC Kirby Moore
Missouri has officially announced the hire of Kirby Moore to be the team’s new quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.
Moore will replace Bush Hamdan as the Tigers' quarterbacks coach. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz has been the Tigers' offensive coordinator and play caller his first three years on the job, but is bringing in a designated offensive coordinator for the first time in his head coaching career.
Moore's contract is a three-year deal with him making $850,000 in 2023 with a $25,000 raise in 2024 and another $25,000 raise in 2025 that would have him making $900,000 that year. Missouri owes Fresno State up to $81,250 for the hire.
If the Tigers fire Moore before the end of his contract then it will owe him the remaining portion of the base salary. If Moore leaves the school before Dec. 20, 2023, he will owe $850,000 and if he leaves before Dec. 18, 2024, he will owe $425,000. Those costs would be void if Moore becomes a head coach elsewhere, a coordinator in pro football or if Drinkwitz leaves or is dismissed from the program.
Moore can earn more money an incentives if he completes one or more of the following:
-$5,000 for every win over nine
-$5,000 for a top 25 ranking
-$5,000 for being Broyles Award finalist
-$5,000 for winning the Broyles Award finalist
-$10,000 for academic achievement
-$25,000 for winning SEC East and an SEC Championship appearance
-$50,000 for winning SEC title
-$15,000 for winning a non-SEC bowl game
-$20,000 for winning the Citrus Bowl or a Group of Six Bowl
-$30,000 for a New Year's Six Bowl
-$50,000 College Football Playoff semifinal appearance
-$60,000 College Football Playoff finals appearance
-$75,000 Winning College Football Playoffs
"Kirby Moore was born to be a football coach," Drinkwitz said. "He's been tutored and mentored by some of the best in the game, starting with his dad Tom, and continuing with Jeff Tedford, Kalen DeBoer and Chris Petersen. He's a proven winner as a coach and player."
Moore, who played for Boise State (2009-2013) and is the brother of Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, already has his sights set on spring training a little less than two months away.
"From my initial conversation with coach Drinkwitz, I felt the connection with his vision for the Missouri football program, and I am extremely thankful for the opportunity for my family and me to be Tigers and coach in the SEC," Moore said. "I've always prided myself on having a close working relationship with each of the head coaches I've been with. As it's played out, they've all come from offensive backgrounds. I look forward to collaborating with Coach Drinkwitz and the offensive staff in that same way. I can't wait to get with the players and staff and go to work with spring ball only 55 days away."
Fresno State finished 53rd in the country in total offense last season with 402.6 yards per game. The Bulldogs were 42nd nationally in yards per play at 6.0 and 49th in scoring, averaging 30.6 yards per game.
Moore, whose older brother Kellen is the Dallas Cowboys' offensive coordinator, was the Bulldogs' wide receivers coach for five years before taking over as the offensive coordinator last season. In 2020, he took over the title of passing game coordinator. Moore played wide receiver at Boise State from 2009-13. He then coached wide receivers at the College of Idaho for a season before serving as a graduate assistant on Chris Petersen's staff at Washington in 2015 and 2016. Ironically, Drinkwitz arrived at Boise as the tight ends coach in 2014, the year after Moore left.
Missouri's offense averaged 366.8 yards and 24.6 points per game this season in going 6-7. The Tigers averaged 5.4 yards per play in 2022. Drinkwitz was the primary playcaller for the first nine games of the year before ceding that duty to Hamdan for the final three games of the regular season. After Hamdan took the offensive coordinator job at Boise State, Drinkwitz resumed duties as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Gasparilla Bowl, which the Tigers lost 27-17 to Wake Forest on Dec. 23.
PowerMizzou.com will have more on Moore's hire and will update this story throughout the day.
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