Mizzou hires former SEC offensive coordinator as tight ends coach

Missouri is adding another experienced assistant to its offensive staff, hiring former LSU and Florida State offensive coordinator Alex Atkins as its new tight ends coach, according to a report Monday from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Atkins replaces Derham Cato, who left Columbia earlier this month to follow out-going offensive coordinator Kirby Moore to Washington State.

Atkins spent the 2025 season at LSU, where he served as the Tigers’ tight ends coach and run-game coordinator. Following LSU’s midseason staff changes, Atkins was elevated to interim offensive coordinator, overseeing an offense that finished 7-6 overall.

Before his stop in Baton Rouge, Atkins spent five seasons at Florida State, where he coached the offensive line from 2020-21 before taking on offensive coordinator duties from 2022-24 under Mike Norvell. During the Seminoles’ 2023 season, Atkins coordinated an offense that averaged more than 400 yards per game and helped guide quarterback Jordan Travis and running back Trey Benson to career years.

Atkins has built much of his career around offensive line and run-game development. Prior to Florida State, he coached the offensive line at Charlotte, Tulane, Georgia Southern and Chattanooga, and served as Tulane’s assistant head coach from 2016-18. He began his career at Tennessee-Martin, where he later coached tight ends in 2008.

Although most of his background has been in the trenches, Atkins has recent experience coaching tight ends, including last season at LSU, where he worked with Trey’Dez Green and Bauer Sharp.

Atkins becomes the latest addition to an overhauled Missouri offensive staff. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz has already hired Chip Lindsey as offensive coordinator, with Garrett Riley and Brendan Bognar also expected to join the offensive staff ahead of the 2026 season.