COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri’s coaching staff was shorthanded for Saturday’s season opener and will be again next weekend. Defensive backs coach Charlie Harbison was not available to join the staff for Saturday’s 38-19 loss to No. 2 Alabama for COVID-19 related reasons, a team spokesman confirmed before kickoff.
Grant O’Brien, the team’s defensive quality control analyst, took over Harbison’s coaching duties Saturday and will do so again next Saturday when the Tigers play at Tennessee. The team did not specify if Harbison tested positive for the virus.
Harbison, 61, also serves as Mizzou’s associate head coach. He was the first assistant coach added to Eliah Drinkwitz's staff and coached under Drinkwitz last year at Appalachian State.