Minnesota's HC Tracy Claeys Fired

[Knight Shift]

According to Adam Rittenberg from ESPN:
"Expect a resolution Tuesday on Tracy Claeys' future as Minnesota's coach. Both Claeys and athletic director Mark Coyle were traveling Monday but both are back in the office Tuesday. Minnesota's assistant coaches are out of the office until later in the week. Off-campus begins again next week after the American Football Coaches Association convention."

Should they let Claeys go, who is left in the coaching carousel:
1. Greg Schiano
2. PJ Fleck
3. Les Miles
4. Art Briles
5. Chip Kelly

 

[Rokodesh]

Is this because of the suspended players? Or his coaching performance? Thought he was doing a decent job up there

 

[Knight Shift]

Is this because of the suspended players? Or his coaching performance? Thought he was doing a decent job up there

Could be the suspended players. I read earlier today (can't find the article) that he backed the players after the suspension. The bowl win may have tilted things in his favor. New AD at Minnesota may want to make his mark.

 

[Scarlet_Monster]

It would be hilarious if he gets the axe, and the former Gopher Admins at UConn bring him in.

 

[RUJohnny99]

Translation: Fleck has 24 hours after his bowl game to accept the offer to row his boat in the land of 1000 lakes, otherwise they'll stick with their coach.

 

[bigmatt718]

Translation: Fleck has 24 hours after his bowl game to accept the offer to row his boat in the land of 1000 lakes, otherwise they'll stick with their coach.

Pretty much. I think Fleck stays as he knows ND and Michigan could very likely be open soon.

 

[BlockR]

story is ,like Purdue,its Flecks job if he wants it..
hope PJ dosent turn this one down..

 

[MozRU]

Pretty much. I think Fleck stays as he knows ND and Michigan could very likely be open soon.

One more season of Khaki Pants losing to OSU (making it 0-3) and not making the playoffs (Please let there be a God), he's back in the NFL. An owner will throw stupid money at him. Not as though 9mm a year isn't already absurd.

Kelly has one more sub par year as well.

 

[rutgersguy1]

One more season of Khaki Pants losing to OSU (making it 0-3) and not making the playoffs (Please let there be a God), he's back in the NFL. An owner will throw stupid money at him. Not as though 9mm a year isn't already absurd.

Kelly has one more sub par year as well.

I'm not sure he makes 9M/year. I think the insurance payment is a one time deal or 2 payments something along those lines. I think his actual salary is 5M.

It's like when Butch Jones was hired at Tenn. He got around 3M at the time but USA today was reporting like somewhere between 4-5M and I was like what? Then I found out it's the buyout paid to Cincy that was included which inflated the actual compensation figure. The salary was still 3M at the time, so it's not recurring compensation.

 

[RUPartisan]

Pretty much. I think Fleck stays as he knows ND and Michigan could very likely be open soon.

Is this extreme sarcasm? I am sure you dont seriously think either school would consider Fleck.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

From what I understand, Fleck is not an option.

 

[Knight Shift]

http://www.startribune.com/u-leader...534065/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it

Claeys going down with the ship. The Pirate Mike Leach is aboard:

 

[FanuSanu52]

Why would Minn fire a first-year coach who just went 9-4 and won a bowl over a good PAC team? Did it get cofused and think it's Michigan?

 

[MADHAT1]

Why would Minn fire a first-year coach who just went 9-4 and won a bowl over a good PAC team? Did it get cofused and think it's Michigan?

The only thing I can think of is he backed the players over the administration.
I think they'll probably bring him back because Minny under him went 9-4 after winning their bowl game.

 

[MikeR0102]

Why would Minn fire a first-year coach who just went 9-4 and won a bowl over a good PAC team? Did it get cofused and think it's Michigan?

Someone has to take the fall for the shameful things that happened out there.

 

[Knight Shift]

Why would Minn fire a first-year coach who just went 9-4 and won a bowl over a good PAC team? Did it get cofused and think it's Michigan?

The same reason Rutgers should have fired a first-year coach who just went 9-4 in 2013, but there were "signs" of cracks in the armor?
Minnesota's current Rivals' class rank is 75 with an average star ranking of 2.54.
Last year's class was #51 with an average star ranking of 2.71.

Sounds like a familiar story. I tried to warn peoplestarting in 2013, and I was shouted down.

 

[MADHAT1]

Sounds like a familiar story. I tried to warn peoplestarting in 2013, and I was shouted down.

 

[FanuSanu52]

The same reason Rutgers should have fired a first-year coach who just went 9-4 in 2013, but there were "signs" of cracks in the armor?
Minnesota's current Rivals' class rank is 75 with an average star ranking of 2.54.
Last year's class was #51 with an average star ranking of 2.71.

Sounds like a familiar story. I tried to warn peoplestarting in 2013, and I was shouted down.

Maybe because you got your years completely mixed up [winking]??

 

[yesrutgers01]

Pretty much. I think Fleck stays as he knows ND and Michigan could very likely be open soon.

Come on, how in the world would Fleck get those jobs with Schiano still available?

 

[Knight Shift]

Come on, how in the world would Fleck get those jobs with Schiano still available?

And Flood too.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

The same reason Rutgers should have fired a first-year coach who just went 9-4 in 2013, but there were "signs" of cracks in the armor?
Minnesota's current Rivals' class rank is 75 with an average star ranking of 2.54.
Last year's class was #51 with an average star ranking of 2.71.

Sounds like a familiar story. I tried to warn peoplestarting in 2013, and I was shouted down.

Yeah, no kidding we have already seen this movie but will they follow the same script?

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

The answer is no. He has been fired.

They learned from our mistake.

 

[Knight Shift]

 

[Knight Shift]

From Story Above:

"Speculation is sure to start immediately on who will replace Claeys, with Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck, former LSU coach Les Miles and Boise State coach Bryan Harsin (a Coyle hire when he worked at Boise State) among the names expected to get tossed around."

 

[Knight Shift]

Any recruits we can poach?
https://minnesota.rivals.com/commitments/football/2017

 

[rucoe89]

Any recruits we can poach?
https://minnesota.rivals.com/commitments/football/2017

Isn't there a MN visitor that is down to us, SD State and MN? Looks like we can be a realistic option for that kid.

 

[Pritz99]

No doubt he's gone because he backed suspended players, and after info came out on the situstion too many in the community wanted him gone. Too man in the administration wanted him gone. Just cut him loose. As someone mentioned, maybe a little of learning from other schools' mistakes.

 

[MADHAT1]

From Story Above:

"Speculation is sure to start immediately on who will replace Claeys, with Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck, former LSU coach Les Miles and Boise State coach Bryan Harsin (a Coyle hire when he worked at Boise State) among the names expected to get tossed around."

Harsin might be a string possibility, he was supposed to have interviewed for the Oregon HC position , so he might be looking to leave Boise if the right offer pops up.
Miles might be too expensive, but I don't know what Minnesota thinks is too much.
Fleck could be third option, think pecking order would be Les at #1, Bryan the #2 choice then PJ .

 

[MADHAT1]

No doubt he's gone because he backed suspended players, and after info came out on the situstion too many in the community wanted him gone. Too man in the administration wanted him gone. Just cut him loose. As someone mentioned, maybe a little of learning from other schools' mistakes.

He back the players against the administration, the players lost and Claeys became a victim of that defeat.
Victim might be too harsh, because he made the choice on who he supported knowing privacy laws might be a factor and the players might not have the rights they demanded.

 

[superfan01]

Is this extreme sarcasm? I am sure you dont seriously think either school would consider Fleck.

Agree. Zero chance Michigan goes from harbaugh to fleck. At 9mm per they can do a lot better

 

[radio43]

Les Miles would be next coach in at Michigan..... It was his job back in 2011 if he wanted it!

http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...b-2011-says-former-lsu-tigers-ad-skip-bertman


Could be wrong, but I believe it was offered right before SEC Championship Game maybe?

 

[rutgersguy1]

Harsin might be a string possibility, he was supposed to have interviewed for the Oregon HC position , so he might be looking to leave Boise if the right offer pops up.
Miles might be too expensive, but I don't know what Minnesota thinks is too much.
Fleck could be third option, think pecking order would be Les at #1, Bryan the #2 choice then PJ .

I don't think Miles would be too expensive. I think he's fairly passionate about getting back into coaching and will likely get his money from LSU minus any offset from a new job. I think the biggest thing would be will Minnesota have the budget for him to get a quality staff that he may want. If they do then I think he'd go there. They're planning on building some big sports complex IIRC and if that's on schedule I'm guessing they have a decent budget. Minnesota is in the west too so the less difficult half of the conference. Miles' name hasn't been as sought after as you might think either this offseason. I don't think he got many bites despite his wanting to return.

If the AD has a previous tie with Harsin that is a definite possibility as well.

Little bit of a weird offseason with some off the field happenings leading to late coaching changes.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Minn has the full Big Ten pay, so they can afford anyone. The question is will those top names be willing to go there and will Minn be willing to pay up?

They spend a lot of money on a new stadium and are upgrading their practice facilities as I am typing this.

So lets see what happens.

 

[Knight Shift]

Will NCAA sanctions be forthcoming?
If you don't have time to read, a recruit allegedly took part in the sexual assault.
http://erstarnews.com/2016/12/25/u-of-m-should-fire-football-coach-tracy-claeys/

Report (download of 82 page pdf):
http://bit.ly/2hGEfUs

 

[srru86]

The Daily Gopher
Minnesota Football: Coaching Search Candidates

 

[rutgersguy1]

The Daily Gopher
Minnesota Football: Coaching Search Candidates

From that list, if you've seen my posting you know I'm a fan of Aranda and would like to see how he'd do if/when he takes the step up. Only question is that he seems content in his role as DC and does he even want to take the step up to HC.

 

[Knight Shift]

The Daily Gopher
Minnesota Football: Coaching Search Candidates

Like the unrealistic list (looks familiar--only one missing is Petrino):
Unrealistic

Chip Kelly

Les Miles -

Tony Dungy or Marc Trestman -

Jim Tressel -

Bo Pelini

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

So sports writers are lazy everywhere not just at nj dot com.

Just pick random big names for clicks, who cares if there is no way in hell they will ever get hired.

 

[RUinOhio]

So sports writers are lazy everywhere not just at nj dot com.

Just pick random big names for clicks, who cares if there is no way in hell they will ever get hired.

in all fairness the writer wrote this:
Unrealistic
I’ll list them but it’s not happening. Don’t try to convince me (or yourself) that it is possible...it’s not.

Chip Kelly - maybe he comes back to college but Minnesota is not where he’s landing. He’ll sit out a year, probably do some TV stuff before having his pick of job openings next year.

Les Miles - I know, I know, he’s been a Big Ten coach and maybe Minnesota is the perfect place for him to end his career. But he’s not coming here (and to be honest I’m not sure I’d want him over several other names).

Tony Dungy or Marc Trestman - please...just don’t even.

Jim Tressel - yes, I know his show-cause is up. But it’s not going to happen.

Bo Pelini - OK, so this is the most likely of the unrealistic ones. It could happen but I’m not sure that it is realistic. I’m not sure that you fire Claeys to bring in Pelini.

————

The hot rumor is that PJ Fleck will be your Gopher coach but the truth is that whoever the Gophers hire is likely not on this list. When Tubby was hired, he wasn’t on anybody’s list. Richard Pitino wasn’t on anyone’s radar and neither was Jerry Kill.

Stay tuned...

 

[SpartanJD]

story is ,like Purdue,its Flecks job if he wants it..
hope PJ dosent turn this one down..

Minny is a better job than Purdue.

I know most of you on the East coast have never been to Minneapolis, but its really a top notch city. Minny just spent a ton on facility upgrades, etc. Better job than Purdue imo, and a lot better quality of life for a coach and his family compared to West Lafayette.

Plus, playing in the B1G West. Solid teams, usually never elite ones though out there.