COLUMBIA, Mo. - Gary Pinkel wasn't out of black and gold for long.
The winningest coach in Missouri football history will be returning to the school's athletic department on a three-year contract to help with fundraising and "donor/fan engagement."
"I've said all along that when my coaching days were done, I would still need to be involved in a meaningful way, and this does that for me," Pinkel said in a release issued Thursday. "I'm excited to be in this role where I can still provide an impact for a place that means so much to me and my family."
Pinkel will also be involved with public appearances and will provide help "as requested on matters related to football and other issues."
Under the contract - which runs from Jan. 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2018 - Pinkel will make $350,000 in both 2016 and 2017 and $250,000 in 2018. Pinkel was making $4.02 million annually when he announced his resignation for health reasons.
"We're really pleased to have coach Pinkel continue as part of our team," director of athletics Mack Rhoades said. "It was very important for us to find the right way to keep the winningest coach in Mizzou history engaged, and we're excited for the value Gary can bring to the table going forward. Schools around the country are finding ways to keep institutional treasures like Gary Pinkel, (Virginia Tech's) Frank Beamer and (South Carolina's) Steve Spurrier in the fold even after they are done carrying a whistle."
Pinkel went 117-71 as Missouri's head coach from 2001-15, surpassing Don Faurot for most program wins. The Tigers won five divisional championships and six of 10 bowl games during Pinkel's tenure. Pinkel is also the winningest coach at Toledo, where he coached from 1991-2000.
Pinkel announced Nov. 13 he would resign after the season because of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis he received in the spring. Pinkel said the blood cancer was not immediately life-threatening. The announcement came at the end of a tumultuous week at Missouri during which the team boycotted football activities because of the handling of racist incidents on campus.
Then-defensive coordinator Barry Odom was hired as Pinkel's successor in December.
Pinkel insisted he would not be able to lead a life of leisure in retirement and he and Rhoades said upon his announcement they would be looking into ways to keep him around. Pinkel will continue to live in Columbia and the Lake of the Ozarks.
There is the possibility of Pinkel taking on other duties, the release said. The full contract will be released once it is completed.