Sources explain why Missouri fired Jackie Shipp with one game left in the season

[jbcarol]

Dismissal of Mizzou D-line coach related to argument with player

COLUMBIA, Mo. • With one game left in the season, Missouri fired defensive line coach Jackie Shipp.

"Jackie Shipp is no longer coaching for us, due to an internal matter where his conduct didn't meet our expectations for coaches," Missouri coach Barry Odom said in a statement released Wednesday. "We have a very high level of expectation for our student athletes, and for our staff that applies to an even higher level."

According to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, Shipp's dismissal is related to a heated argument he had with a Mizzou player before Saturday's game at Tennessee. He did not coach during the game and did not travel back to Columbia with the team, sources said. Shipp was not in attendance at Tuesday's practice, after which reporters interviewed several other assistant coaches.

Shipp, 54, was unavailable for comment.

Shipp was a late addition to Odom's coaching staff in February when his first choice for the position, Chris Wilson, left after six weeks on the job to join the Philadelphia Eagles. Odom did not retain longtime defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski when he took over the head-coaching duties after last season. Kuligowski is now the defensive line coach at the University of Miami.

Shipp had spent the three previous seasons at Arizona State and before that coached at Oklahoma for 14 years. Stillwater native was a star linebacker at Oklahoma in the 1980s and played five seasons in the NFL..

Rhiannon ‏@TennesseeBeat 19h19 hours ago

Rhiannon Potkey Retweeted Dave Matter

The aftermath of Missouri's trip to Tennessee has been dumpster fire-worthy.