Pinkel announces resignation due to health issues
The Missouri athletic department confirmed that Gary Pinkel is resigning following the 2015 season because of health issues.
PowerMizzou.com first reported the news.
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The release explains that Pinkel was diagnosed with lymphoma in May, and he received "multiple treatments" in May and June. At that point, with the consultation of his doctors, Pinkel decided he would continue to coach Missouri.
"I made the decision in May, after visiting with my family, that i wanted to keep coaching, as long as I felt good and had the energy I needed," Pinkel said in the release. "I felt great going into the season but also knew that I would need to re-assess things at some point, and I set our bye week as the time when I would take stock of the future."
Pinkel, 63, had more exams on Oct. 26th, and after meeting with his family, decided the next day that this will be his final year of coaching.
"I still feel good physically," Pinkel said in the release, "but I have decided that I want to focus on enjoying my remaining years with my family and friends, and also have proper time to battle the disease and give full attention to that.
"I want to make very clear that I'm not doing poorly and that this is a manageable disease, but it's one that will never go away. So many people have bigger struggles with other forms of cancer and other serious diseases, and I feel blessed that I've got something I can fight and still enjoy a good quality of life. I don't know how many years I have left, but I want to turn my focus to life outside of the daily grind of football."
Pinkel will leave Missouri as the all-time winningest coach in program history. He is currently 117-71 at Missouri in 15 seasons. According to the release, his 190 career wins (at Missouri and Toledo) rank 19th in NCAA FBS history.
Missouri is currently 4-5 this season, and will face BYU at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
PowerMizzou.com will have more coverage on this developing situation.