One week after the Missouri Tigers included an increased budget for assistant coaches in Eli Drinkwitz’ contract extension, he put it to use.
Drinkwitz and the Tigers announced the contract extension of defensive coordinator Corey Batoon through the 2027 season.
Batoon, who is entering his second year with the team, is now set to make $1.4 million — a $400,00 increase — this season to become the ninth highest-paid defensive coordinator in the SEC.
Batoon is set to make $1.6 million in 2026.
Batoon’s defensive unit saw success in his first year with the program.
Missouri ranked fourth in the conference and 20th in the country in points allowed per game at 20.4.
The Tigers’ defense was fueled by its efficiency getting opposing offenses off the field. Missouri ranked fifth in FBS in third-down defense, allowing just a 30.2 percent success rate.
Batoon has had a long coaching career that started in 1991 at Pierce Junior College (Calif.).
He has made stops at 12 schools including Missouri. Batoon was the defensive coordinator at South Alabama from 2021-23 prior to his hiring in Columbia.
Prior to South Alabama, Batoon spent time at Liberty (safeties coach in 2020), Hawaii (defensive coordinator from 2081-19), Florida Atlantic (co-defensive coordinator in 2017), Mississippi (assistant athletic director from 2012-14 and special teams coordinator in 2015-16), Arkansas State (safeties coach in 2009-10 and special teams coordinator in 2011), Northern Arizona (special teams coordinator in 1998 and assistant head coach and defensvie coordinator in 1999-2000), Montana (defensive ends coach in 1997), Central Missouri (special teams coordinator in 1996) and Saint Mary’s (defensive backs coach from 1993-95).
