The 100-Yard Journey

Overview

The 100-Yard Journey offers an intimate look into the life of a successful coach, revealing:

• The leadership principles that built winning teams.
• How to overcome adversity and maintain focus.
• The importance of family and mentorship in achieving success.

Whether you're a football fan, aspiring coach, or simply seeking inspiration, Pinkel's memoirs provide valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and the power of a strong team.

Author Biography

See Author

Media

The Kansas City Star

STL Today

ESPN.com

PowerMizzou Rivals.com

ThePostGame

Book Signings

Past Events

Press Releases

The 100-Yard Journey:

A Life in Coaching and Battling for the Win

By Gary Pinkel and Dave Matter

Gary Pinkel is one of the most successful coaches in college football history. With the incredible honor of being the winningest head coach for two different programs, as well as SEC Coach of the Year in 2014, there’s no disputing his ability to coach his teams to the top. But as is so often the case, his success did not exist freely of controversy or challenges. 

In The 100-Yard Journey: A Life in Coaching and Battling for the Win (Triumph Books, September 2017), Pinkel recounts the course of his of his storied career without shying away from the challenges, professional and personal, that he faced along the way. From his early life and his playing days to his wildly successful coaching career and his retirement, Gary Pinkel certainly has an impressive story to share. Highlights include:

• A heartfelt foreword by Nick Saban, celebrated coach and Gary Pinkel’s former teammate and longtime friend
• What he learned during his time at Kent State and his decision to pursue coaching the led him to work under Don James at Washington
• Insight into his first head coaching job at University of Toledo
• How he built a winning culture at Mizzou, including transition into the SEC where Pinkel eventually earned honors as the 2014 SEC Coach of the Year
• His non-Hodgkins lymphoma diagnosis and life after retirement

In The 100-Yard Journey, Pinkel offers a glimpse into the mind of a winner as well as an honest reflection on meeting and overcoming the unexpected.

About the Author:

Gary Pinkel won 118 games in 15 seasons as the head football coach at the University of Missouri, becoming the winningest coach in the program's history. During the Pinkel era, the Tigers posted five seasons with 10 or more wins and reached 10 bowl games. Prior to joining Mizzou, Pinkel was the head coach at Toledo for 10 seasons and an assistant under Don James at the University of Washington. He lives in Columbia, Missouri. This is his first book.

Dave Matter is the Mizzou athletics beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and STLtoday.com. Prior to joining the Post-Dispatch in 2013, he wrote for Columbia Daily Tribune for more than 10 years. He lives in Columbia, Missouri.

###