Kent State Hall of Famer Pinkel Earns Missouri HOF Honor
10/30/2019 3:08:00 PM | Football, General
KENT, OHIO- Kent State Hall of Fame tight end Gary Pinkel ('75) is receiving the Missouri Sports Legend Award this weekend as part of the 2019 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies.
Pinkel is a 1997 inductee into the Kent State Varsity "K" Hall of Fame and was an All-MAC and honorable mention All-America tight end for the Golden Flashes from 1970-73. Pinkel was the leading receiver on Kent's 1972 Mid-American Conference Championship Team, grabbing 34 passes for 477 yards and three touchdowns. He again led Kent in receiving as a senior with 36 catches for 409 yards and a TD as the Flashes posted the best record in school history (9-2-0) and finished second in the MAC.
After his playing days, Pinkel got his coaching start with Kent State as part of the infamous "James Gang" under head coach Don James. He later served under James at the University of Washington throughout the 80s, spending the last seven seasons in Seattle as offensive coordinator. Pinkel later had successful head coaching stints at Toledo (1991-2000) and Missouri (2001-15), posting an overall record of 191-110-3.
Everyone at Kent State Athletics congratulates Coach Pinkel on the well-deserved honor.
