MU football coach Gary Pinkel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for driving while intoxicated Nov. 18. He received two-year’s probation and a 30-day suspended sentence for the charge. It is his first offense.
Pinkel was arrested at approximately 10 p.m. Nov. 16 while driving his Chevrolet Avalanche on Keene Street near Broadway. He was pulled over for signal and lane violations, according to a report from the Boone County Sheriff’s Department. His blood alcohol content at the time of the arrest has not been released.
MU Athletics Director Mike Alden sidelined Pinkel for the Texas Tech game less than 24 hours after the arrest. He has been suspended for the week and will return to coach the Border Showdown against Kansas on Saturday.
“This absolutely goes against everything we stand for and everything he teaches his players in regards to social responsibilities,” Alden said in a [past Maneater article](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2011/11/17/pinkel-suspended-week-following-dwi-arrest/). “We hold ourselves to very high standards at the University of Missouri, certainly in the athletic program. This is a serious breaking of those responsibilities.”
Pinkel will donate a week’s salary, worth $40,769, to the MU Wellness Resource Center upon his return Thursday. He is no longer eligible for a social responsibility bonus clause in his contract and will face a pay freeze for one year.
Since Missouri qualified for postseason play with Saturday’s victory over Texas Tech, Pinkel will not be eligible for a $75,000 bonus. He is set to lose $306,538 in total salary.
In a statement from the athletics department, Pinkel expressed disappointment regarding his actions and reinforced that no one should drive while intoxicated.
“I did not follow that here and for that, I sincerely apologize to the University of Missouri, to our administration, to the Board of Curators and to our fans,” he said. “I have already met with our staff and communicated with our players and have apologized to them. I accept full responsibility for my actions and will abide by whatever course of action our leadership deems appropriate.”