Published on Show Me Mizzou April 24, 2025
Story by Joe Walljasper, BJ ’92
Brock Olivo’s playing days at Mizzou are three decades past, back in the era of gigantic shoulder pads. Even then, the Tiger running back seemed like a throwback. He lived in spartan quarters, forsook fatty and frothy pleasures and pushed himself to legendary lengths in the weight room.
Those sacrifices transformed a lightly regarded recruit into a star back and special teams player. Olivo, BA ’01, was a firm believer in the notion that anything was possible in football if you outworked the other guy. As a senior in 1997, he and the Tigers earned their first winning season in 13 years.
The game has changed dramatically since then, and not at all.
“Football, I call it the great revealer,” says Olivo, who has served as Mizzou football’s special teams assistant since 2023. “There’s a lot of pomp and circumstance around college football, but on Saturday afternoons, you have to prove it. I don’t care how much NIL or revenue sharing you’re getting directly deposited into your bank account each month.”
Although the coach is a romantic about football, he says sharing his real-world experience has the most impact on Mizzou players. After four seasons as a player with the Detroit Lions, Olivo transitioned into coaching. He worked with the Chiefs, Broncos and Bears before returning to his alma mater.
“I’ve been in their shoes here,” he says. “I can give them perspective on what it takes as a player and what coaches look for at the next level.”
To read more articles like this, become a Mizzou Alumni Association member and receive MIZZOU magazine in your mailbox. Click here to join.
