Former Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel Says His Cancer Has Returned

The longtime Missouri coach retired following the 2015 season, after announcing that he had non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Ed Zurga/Getty Images

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Former Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel says he is being treated for cancer again.

Pinkel told ABC17 TV in Columbia Saturday that he had treatment last month after his cancer came out of remission for the first time in four years.

Pinkel retired after the 2015 season after announcing that he had non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He coached the Tigers from 2001 to 2016, compiling a 118–73 record.

He says his type of cancer will never be healed and he intends to keep fighting it.

Coach Pinkel on his health:

"I had to get treatment again for the first time in four years. My cancer came out of remission, and so I had treatment last month."

Despite this - he continues to make a difference in kids lives through his new foundation - @gpmade_ pic.twitter.com/JDYPEcecuC

— Andrew Kauffman (@A_Kauff) June 24, 2019

Pinkel, who is 67, has been a fundraising liaison with the Missouri athletics foundation. He also started the “GP MADE Foundation” to raise money for cancer research and programs to help underprivileged and special needs children.