COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Head Football Coach Eliah Drinkwitz has added offensive assistant coach Curtis Luper to his new staff, as announced today. Luper, who has 24 years of college coaching experience and is regarded among the nation’s top recruiters, has spent the past seven seasons at TCU, including the last three as co-offensive coordinator, running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Details of Luper’s contract with Mizzou, as well as his specific coaching duties, will be released pending completion of the human resources process.
At TCU, Luper has had a direct hand in some of the top seasons in Horned Frog history. Three times in the last six seasons, TCU has won double-digit games and finished ranked in the Associated Press Top 10. Those seasons include a 12-1 record and Big 12 championship in 2014 (final AP rank of No. 3, and 11-win seasons in both 2015 (No. 7 final AP rank) and 2017 (No. 9 final AP rank).
Luper has also logged four years each at Auburn (2009-12) and Oklahoma State (2005-08) where he coached running backs as well as other duties. His running backs have produced 1,000-yard seasons 13 times in his career. He’s been named multiple times to the Rivals.com Top 25 recruiter national rankings. Just a few of the top athletes he’s recruited have included Auburn’s 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and 2010 Lombardi Award winner and SEC Defensive Player of the Year Nick Fairley, in addition to Oklahoma State All-Americans Dez Bryant and Russell Okung.
“Curtis brings a championship pedigree to our staff,” said Drinkwitz. “He’s coached offense at the highest level and he’s been part of some of the best offenses in college football. He’s a man of integrity, and he’s one of the best recruiters in the country. We’re excited to welcome him and his family to the Mizzou football family.”
During his time at Auburn, Luper consistently produced some of the nation’s most highly-ranked recruiting classes. He also helped the Tigers register back-to-back seasons of record-breaking offensive production and a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. Luper recruited and coached running back Michael Dyer to an Auburn freshman record 1,093 rushing yards and Offensive Most Valuable Player honors in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game. Dyer was a 2010 Freshman All-SEC selection and second-team Freshman All-American. Dyer rushed for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns in the 2011 campaign.
“I’m definitely excited to come to Missouri and join Coach Drink,” said Luper. “He and I really connected in our time together at Auburn, and we have the same thoughts philosophically when it comes to offense. It’s really exciting for me to be at a flagship institution, that’s something I’ve never had the opportunity to do in my coaching career, so I’m looking forward to that and to being part of the Mizzou community.”
Luper joined the TCU football staff in January 2013 and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in February 2017.
After serving as TCU’s wide receivers coach in 2013, Luper was named running backs coach in 2014 and made an immediate impact on the position. Three Horned Frogs (B.J. Catalon, Aaron Green and Trevorris Johnson) topped the 100-yard mark over the course of the season with Green a second-team All-Big 12 selection.
In 2015, Green became the Horned Frogs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2010 and earned All-Big 12 recognition in the process. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams.
The 2016 campaign saw Kyle Hicks also top the 1,000-yard mark and receive All-Big 12 accolades. It marked the first time since 2002-03 that TCU had back-to-back seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher. Hicks became the first Horned Frog since Basil Mitchell in 1996 to lead the team in both rushing (1,042) and receiving (47 receptions).
The 2018 season saw Darius Anderson record a 93-yard touchdown run against Ohio State for the longest rushing play in TCU history. Sewo Olonilua then closed the year with a TCU bowl record 194 yards rushing to earn Cheez-It Bowl Offensive Most Valuable Player honors in the 10-7 overtime win against Cal.
Luper arrived at TCU after four years as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Auburn. He was on staff for the Tigers’ 2010 national championship.
Auburn’s rushing attack led the Southeastern Conference and ranked fifth nationally with an average of 284.8 yards per game during the Tigers’ 2010 national championship season. Auburn then set a school record with 3,987 rushing yards in 2011. The 2010 Tigers set team records for points (577) and total offense (6,989 yards) for the second consecutive year.
In recruiting, Luper helped bring in classes that were consistently ranked in the Top 10 nationally by ESPN, Rivals.com and Scout.com. Auburn signed a consensus Top five class in 2010. For his efforts, Luper was named by Rivals to its list of the Top 25 recruiters in the nation and one of the SEC’s Top 10 recruiters.
In 2009, the Auburn offense set numerous single-season school records, including points (433) and total offense (5,613 yards). Luper coached running back Ben Tate, now with the Houston Texans, who rushed for 1,362 yards and was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist.
Prior to his arrival at Auburn, Luper served as Oklahoma State’s running backs coach from 2005-08. He was also the assistant head coach for player development during his last two seasons with the Cowboys. Under Luper, the OSU running attack led the Big 12 in rushing each of his last three seasons. As an assistant coach at New Mexico (2002-04, Luper coached the Mountain West’s career rushing leader in DonTrell Moore.
A native of Sherman, Texas, Luper started his coaching career at Stephen F. Austin (1995-96). Luper began his playing days at Oklahoma State (1984-87). From 1988-92, he served as an air traffic controller for the United States Army.
During his tenure in the Army, Luper spent eight months combined at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Ala., and Fort Rucker near Enterprise, Ala.
Luper completed his eligibility at Stephen F. Austin as an All-Southland Conference running back in 1993 with a team high 1,054 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He signed with the Houston Oilers following his senior season.
Luper earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Stephen F. Austin in 1996 and master’s degree in communications from SFA in 1998. He is working on a doctoral degree in secondary and higher education from Texas A&M-Commerce.
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