SPRINGFIELD -- Al Davis will join Missouri State's staff as a defensive assistant coach, Bears' new head football coach Casey Woods announced today.
 
Davis has coached 11 years at the collegiate level and coached in 10 bowl games. He spent the 2025 season as defensive line coach at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Mo. after serving the previous four seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Missouri, most recently coaching the interior linemen for coach Eliah Drinkwitz in Columbia from 2021-24.
 
"I'm really excited to bring coach Al Davis to join coach Curtis' defensive staff at Missouri State, a year removed from coaching at Missouri," said Woods. "A former SEC player, coach Davis has a wealth of experience coaching in the trenches, recruiting the Midwest and developing young talent. He is an outstanding teammate and fired up to be in Springfield. We welcome him and his son Adonis to the Bear Family! It takes Us ALL!  Join the Climb. Go Bears!"
 
Davis first joined the Tigers football staff in 2021 as a defensive analyst and moved into coaching the defensive line in October of 2021. Since the 2022 season, Davis coached the interior defensive linemen and was part of four bowl appearances -- Armed Forces Bowl (2021), Gasparilla Bowl (2022), Cotton Bowl (2023) and Music City Bowl (2024) with victories in the latter two.
 
In 2024, Davis' defensive line helped Missouri rank in the top 20 nationally in total defense (17th, 317.5), passing defense (18th, 181.3) and scoring defense (20th, 20.4).
 
The 2023 Tigers went 11-2 with a final national ranking of No. 8 in the AP poll while ranking 25th nationally in total defense. MU defeated No. 7 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl to help the program earn its first-ever win in a New Year's Six Bowl.
 
He has coached five NFL Draft picks during his tenure, including first-rounders Darius Robinson (Cardinals) and Devonte Wyatt (Packers).
 
He came to Mizzou after coaching the defensive tackles at Illinois in 2020. Davis' season at Illinois came following three years at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College where he had been promoted to associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.
 
He was a defensive graduate assistant coach at Arkansas for the 2014-16 seasons after lettering for the Razorbacks from 2009-12. He served as captain as a senior in 2012.
 
The College Park, Ga. native interned at Fayetteville (Ark.) High School in 2012 and was a volunteer coach there in 2013.
 
As a standout defensive tackle, Davis appeared in 49 games at Arkansas, including 44 straight to end his career, with 16 collegiate starts. He was a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll as well as the Arkansas Athletic Department Honor Roll in the fall of 2009 and the Athletic Director's List in the fall of 2012. He earned the 2013 Brad Davis SEC Community Service Postgraduate Scholarship and earned the Red Tie Spirit of the Razorback Award in 2013.
 
He went on to sign free agent contracts with the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots of the National Football League.
 
Davis earned his bachelor's degree in Sports and Recreational Management from Arkansas in 2012 with a minor in Communication. He also earned a master's degree in Sports Management from Arkansas in 2015.
 
His hire is contingent upon formal approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting.