Mizzou Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel is expected to return next season and will speak on Tuesday

COLUMBIA, Mo. - It appears Gary Pinkel will return for his 13th season as Mizzou head football coach.

The Columbia Tribune reported Monday Tigers Athletic Director Mike Alden said Pinkel will be back next season. Pinkel, who has a 90-61 record at Mizzou, will hold a season-ending news conference Tuesday morning. He’s expected to discuss the program’s first season in the Southeastern Conference and look ahead to next season.

Rumors swirled over the weekend on Twitter that Pinkel would be out as Mizzou head coach. But that appears to be false. The official confirmation should come at Tuesday’s media session with Pinkel.

The Tigers finished their first season in the SEC with a fifth-place showing in the East Division after Saturday’s 59-29 loss against Texas A&M. Mizzou finished 5-7 overall, just 2-6 in the SEC. The Tigers will not be playing a bowl game for the first time since 2004.