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Jay Sawvel to make $550K as Minnesota Football's defensive coordinator

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Gophers DC Jay Sawvel is getting a nice raise as he moves from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator. A raise of just under $300,000 per year in fact. The raise is well deserved and continues Minnesota's recent efforts to competitively compensate assistant coaches. Here is some context to evaluate Coach Sawvel's new salary:

- $550,000 would have set up Sawvel as tied for the 10th best compensated coordinator in the Big Ten last season. - Tracy Claeys was making $616,000 as DC for Minnesota last season.

Gophers Sweep Big Ten's 3 Stars after Demolishment of Badgers

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After the Gophers best weekend against Wisconsin in Madison in history, the Big Ten rewarded three Gophers with a clean sweep of their 3 stars of the week.

Michael Brodzinksi was named the #1 star after garnering an assist in the Gophers 4-0 Friday win, and then recorded a hat trick in the Gophers 9-2 thrashing of the Badgers on Saturday. He is only the second defenseman ever to win the Big Ten's #1 Star, and the first since former Gopher Mike Reilly earned the award in 2014.

Husdon Fasching was named the #2 star after recording two goals and three assists on the weekend. Fasching scored just 12 seconds into Saturdays game, reminding many Gopher fans of Ryan Stoa's goal against the Badgers in Madison just six seconds into the game in 2008.

Gopher goalie Eric Schierhorn was named the #3 star after earning his third shutout of the season in a 4-0 win on Friday, and allowing just two goals in a 9-2 win on Saturday.

The Gophers will continue to stay hot with a huge weekend ahead at the North Star College Cup at the X. The Gophers play Bemidji State at 4 on Saturday, and will either play Minnesota State or St. Cloud State on Sunday.

Brad Frost Becomes Gopher Womens Hockey's All-Time Winningest Coach

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With their 7-0 win over St. Cloud State on Friday, Gopher Women's Hockey coach Brad Frost became the all-time winningest coach in program history with his 279th win. He would add #280 in a 4-2 win on Saturday over the Huskies.

Frost now has an all-time record of 280-44-21 and eclipsed Laura Halldorson's win total of 278. Frost and Halldorson also each have three national titles to their records.

The Gophers enter the final stretch of the regular season in 2nd place in the WCHA behind only Wisconsin. The Gophers finish the WCHA regular season with four series against three top ten nationally ranked schools in Bemidji State, North Dakota and Wisconsin, and a road series at UMD.

The Gophers will need to most likely run the table including a home sweep of the Badgers the last wee of the regular season to claim the regular season title. Wisconsin has a five point lead and plays the conference bottom feeders the rest of the way other than Minnesota. Either way, the Gophers and Badgers will be the #1 and #2 seed in the WCHA Playoffs, with the WCHA Final Face-off being played in early March back at Ridder Arena.

How to avoid tweeting at recruits using one simple flowchart

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DO NOT TWEET AT RECRUITS. Need more details? That's what the flowchart is for. Just click on Bobby's tweet and all your questions will be answered.

Carter Coughlin to Have Shoulder Surgery

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Just an FYI but Coughlin suffered a concussion at the US Army All-American Game and is having shoulder surgery. But he plans to be 100% for Fall Camp in August. Speedy recovery!

Matt Limegrover hired as Penn State's OL Coach

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There was never a real question of whether Matt Limegrover would end up in a good spot following his departure from the Gophers. He's a good guy, well liked, and while his tenure as Minnesota's offensive coordinator may not have been as successful as he or others would have wanted it also wasn't a massive failure that would lead future employers to question his skill-set. I'm glad Coach found a new home and I wish him all the best, so long as that best doesn't appear on October 1st of this year. =)

Gophers Announce New Football Coaching Staff Hires

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Here is your link to the official release from Minnesota on the hiring of Jay Johnson as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and Bart Miller as offensive line coach.

UPDATED: James, Edwards, and Gant Transferring

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Sophomore cornerback and punt returner Craig James, who suffered a broken leg against Northwestern, is transferring out of Minnesota. His reasons for wanting a transfer are unknown at this time. This is certainly a blow to next year's depth in the secondary, with seniors Eric Murray, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, and Antonio Johnson graduating. This opens the door for freshman KiAnte Hardin to take the open cornerback spot opposite expected starter Jalen Myrick.

Per Joe Christensen, more transfers are expected, which is inevitable with a new head coach -- even one promoted from within -- and shake-ups on the coaching staff. Hopefully the departures are minimal, but we'll have to wait and see. We'll keep you posted.

UPDATE 1:45 PM: Joe is now reporting that running back Berkley Edwards and wide receiver Desmond Gant will also transfer. Edwards hasn't ruled out staying at Minnesota and running track, but will also consider transferring somewhere he can do both track and football. Gant is transferring due to lack of playing time, and Illinois State has been mentioned as a possible destination. Joe also confirmed that James is transferring closer to home, with Illinois State also a possibility for him.

Joe C: Gophers Close To Hiring New Offensive Coordinator

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Minnesota appears close to finalizing a deal that would bring in Jay Johnson as the Gophers' new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Johnson has served as associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach at Louisiana-Lafayette for the past five season.

We'll have more information once the hire has been made official with an announcement from Minnesota. Tracy Claeys has said he would not announce new hires until after the bowl game, so expect a formal announcement tomorrow.

Highlights from Minnesota's Quick Lane Bowl victory!

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All the best moments from tonight's 21-14 win over Central Michigan!