After a month-long wait, Missouri finally has its next offensive coordinator.

Former Tennessee Volunteers head coach Derek Dooley will be Missouri’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, according to a release from Missouri Athletics.

Dooley has spent the last five seasons as the wide receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He returns to the college game after a five-year hiatus; he was fired from Tennessee in November 2012 after going 15-21 in his three seasons as the team’s head coach.

Head coach Barry Odom said via the release that he’s excited to add Dooley to the program.

“Derek brings tremendous energy, knowledge and experience to our staff,” Odom said. “He will do a great job of mentoring our student-athletes in all areas of their lives, and I know he will add great benefit and loyalty to our staff room with his experiences he’s gained over his career.”

Dooley is a protégé of current Alabama head coach Nick Saban. The two worked together while Saban was the head coach of the LSU Tigers from 2000-04. During that time, Dooley rose from the rank of recruiting coordinator to assistant head coach. When Saban departed for the job of head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Dooley went with him, coaching Dolphin tight ends from 2005-06.

For his part, Dooley said he just wants to get started.

“I am excited to be a Mizzou Tiger and look forward to helping Coach Odom carry out his vision for the program,” Dooley said via the release. “I am grateful for this opportunity, and am ready to get to Columbia and go to work.”

As offensive coordinator, Dooley will call plays extensively for the first time in his career.

_Edited by Garrett Jones | gjones@themaneater.com_