Hmmm... It sounds like the Bruce Walker retirement may have been last minute after all.

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Ricker lands dream job at Mizzou

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3 hours ago • By Dave Matter dmatter@post-dispatch.com 314-340-85080

HOOVER, Ala. • A.J. Ricker had a plan when he went to the football coaches convention in January. He wanted to find Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Henson and “pick his brain on the success they had last year offensively,” Ricker said. Ricker, coming off his first season as Illinois’ offensive line coach, wanted to talk terminology and technique with Henson, who just had a strong debut season calling plays for the Tigers’ offense.

Little did they know six months later they’d be reunited. Missouri officially announced Monday that Ricker will join Henson’s offensive staff and coach the offensive line. Ricker was driving to his old office in Champaign, Ill., Monday night and plans to move to Columbia on Wednesday, along with his wife, Lauren, and 5-month-old son Andrew.

Ricker, 34, took a call from Henson last week asking if he’d be interested in interviewing for the job, which became when Bruce Walker announced his retirement on July 1.

“As coaches you always have those few jobs that are your dream jobs,” Ricker said Monday, “and Missouri is definitely one of them for me.”

The former two-time Mizzou captain lettered for the Tigers from 2000-03, starting every game at center during those four years. Ricker was a first-team All-Big 12 selection as a senior. He served as Illinois’ offensive line coach last season and previously coached the offensive line at Western Michigan. Ricker interviewed with Henson and MU quarterbacks coach Andy Hill last week in Kansas City. On Wednesday, head coach Gary Pinkel offered him the job.

“We’re really excited to have A.J. join our staff,” Pinkel said in a prepared statement. “When we had this opportunity, we wanted to bring a young coach in who had experience, and A.J. fits that perfectly. We feel like he’s one of the best young offensive line coaches in the country, and we talk all the time about being Mizzou Made. He understands our system, he loves Mizzou and he can’t wait to get started.”

Ricker inherits an offensive line with three returning starters.

“I’ve got experience, but being a younger coach, I’m not that far removed from that what they’re going through,” he said. “My biggest thing is playing offensive line is a privilege, and it comes with having the right demeanor and the right attitude. It’s about loving what you do. Really, what I want to show the guys is that it takes zero talent. It’s all about the mental aspect of the game.”

This post was edited on 7/15/14 at 4:50 am