Gary Pinkel: 'I'm staying at Missouri'

Gary Pinkel is 101-62 in 13 seasons as head coach at Missouri (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel has a long history at the University of Washington, having served as tight ends coach (1976), wide receivers coach (1979-83) and offensive coordinator (1984-90) for the Huskies before getting the head coaching job at Toledo.

With the Huskies seeking a new coach after the departure of Steve Sarkisian to USC, speculation emerged about Pinkel going back to Washington. But Pinkel, who turned down the chance to interview at Washington before Sarkisian was hired in 2008, quickly shot down the idea.

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"I'll be quite frank, I'm staying at Missouri," Pinkel said Thursday morning on "Mike and Mike" on ESPN Radio.

Pinkel said he's focused on preparing his No. 5 Tigers for Saturday's SEC Championship Game against No. 3 Auburn.

After going 2-6 in the SEC last season — its first in the conference — Missouri went 7-1 this year, won the SEC East and has an outside shot at playing for national championship.

Pinkel has a career record of 174-99-3 in 23 seasons — 10 at Toledo and 13 at Missouri.

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