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It was announced earlier this morning via press release that interim head coach and defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys has signed a 3-year contract to be the new head football coach at the University of Minnesota. With the amount of high profile openings across the college football landscape, this is the right move for the Gophers, especially with no permanent athletic director in place. It avoids the potential shake-up and roster attrition of a new hire -- not to mention the uncertainty of a national coaching search -- and allows the staff currently in place to continue to build from the foundation that they've been laying for the past five years now.
The Gophers are in good hands with Claeys and crew.
More details from Twitter:
U of M @PrezKaler: "Tracy Claeys is the right person for this important job. I applaud and fully support Interim AD Beth Goetz’s decision."
— Marcus R. Fuller (@GophersNow) November 11, 2015
Interim AD Goetz on why Claeys: "improvement of this program, both academically & athletically, & Coach Claeys’ integral leadership role."
— Marcus R. Fuller (@GophersNow) November 11, 2015
I'm told #Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys will make $1.4 million in 2016, $1.5 m in 2017 and $1.6 m in 2018 under three-year contract.
— JoeChristensen (@JoeCStrib) November 11, 2015
To check out the full press release, click here.