On December 14, 2014, Dave Steckel was Missouri State’s answer.
He had a name football fans knew. The man known as Stec had just been recognized as one of the top college assistant coaches in the nation while at Mizzou; and the only defensive coordinator on that list.
He received a standing ovation at JQH Arena while watching a Bears game; the ink on his contract had barely dried.
Stec’s first home game would draw 17,835 fans to Plaster Stadium, exceeding it’s capacity.
A hungry fan base who had been disenfranchised believed he would be the one to turn a struggling football program into a winner.
After five seasons at Missouri State, Dave Steckel is out as head coach.
The announcement comes at an awkward time. The early signing period has passed with many athletes signing on to play for Stec.
Out of no where, on a day the media was focused on one of Springfield’s biggest events, the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions, an email was sent by Missouri State.
On November 27, the university said it had intentions of honoring Stec’s contract through the 2021 season. But recent, private funds allowed the university to change its stance and present Stec a “mutual” way of parting.
The announcement boasts a privately-funded buyout will pay Steckel three, annual payments of $140,000. There’s also two additional payments of $100,000 depending on Stec’s employment status in 2021 and ’22.
It comes following a year the Bears finished 1-10. It’s the second time since 1972 the Bears have won just one game in a season – the other was Stec’s first season in 2015.
Steckel finishes with a record of 13-42 at Missouri State including a 7-31 record in Missouri Valley Football Conference play.
“I’m thinking about how to fix this football team right now,” Stec said after the 2019 season finale loss to Indiana State, “and not thinking of sitting next season.”
The former Marine was not thinking about himself following season ending loss, he was thinking about his players. About a program that was still his.
“I got to figure out how to restore some confidence back in this football team.”
It’s a question the administration had tried to answer in the past and will have another go at. The lackluster program at Missouri State is not Stec’s fault alone – it’s been decades of futility.
The 2019 season caps a tenth-straight year the Bears finish with a losing record.
Stec’s predecessor, Terry Allen, was one of the winningest coaches in Valley history when he came to Missouri State. From 1989-96, Allen led the Northern Iowa Panthers to a 75-26 record. Allen’s Panthers also tallied an incredible Valley conference record of 40-7 in his tenure.
But Allen could not recreate his success in Springfield. In nine seasons, Allen’s Bears went 37-64 with a conference record of 25-44.
And the coach before Allen has a similar story. From 1990-98, Randy Ball was 64-41-1 at Western Illinois who is also a member of the Valley.
And you know where this is going. Ball goes 34-42 with the Bears, having a conference record of 14-33 from 1999-2005.
MSU Director of Athletics, Kyle Moats was asked before the season, “why can’t the football program find success?” Was it academics? Number of scholarships? Facilities? Coaches?
None of those. Moats answer was two-fold. One, depth. And two, if Missouri State knew it – they would address it he said with a smile.
Looking ahead to 2020, the Bears will be celebrating another new football coach.
There will be another press conference.
He’ll be introduced to the fans during a Bears basketball game and there will be cheers.
He will make the same promises of his predecessors.
2020 will also be the 30th anniversary of the final time the football team made the postseason.
Missouri State has tried hiring top head coaches from their conference and the top, D-I defensive coordinator in the nation. They did not work.
What’s next?
Maybe a young, up and coming coach without an established track record. Maybe a former player who wants to return home and lead his alma mater to heights never seen.
Missouri State has to get creative.
Maybe there is an answer out there.
Question is, where?
Your guess is as good as mine.
