Former Mizzou Coach Pinkel Facing Familiar Charge

“He is retired and a private citizen. While the situation is unfortunate, he is entitled to a defense. He will be entering a plea of not guilty. These cases take time, and we will respect and follow the appropriate judicial procedures to its conclusion," Pinkel's attorney, Bogdan A. Susan, said in an official statement. “I have spoken to Gary and asked him to not make any statements at this time.”  

It remains unclear what led to the arrest or whether Pinkel was subjected to field sobriety tests during the stop.

This isn’t the first time Gary Pinkel has faced a DWI charge.

Back in 2011, while serving as Missouri’s head football coach, Pinkel was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Columbia. Deputies from the Boone County Sheriff’s Department stopped him near the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and Broadway. At the time, Pinkel admitted to drinking two large glasses of wine and declined to take a field sobriety test.

Pinkel received a 30-day suspended jail sentence and two years of probation for that offense. The team suspended him for one game and issued him a fine.

Pinkel’s arrest casts a shadow over the legacy of Missouri’s winningest football coach, whose name remains closely tied to the program’s rise in national prominence. As legal proceedings unfold, the situation serves as a reminder that even celebrated figures are not immune to personal missteps. For now, Pinkel’s case remains pending, with a not guilty plea expected and more clarity likely to come in the weeks ahead.