Minnesota is expected to name Northern Illinois running backs coach Nic McKissic-Luke as the program’s next running backs coach, per ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel.

McKissic-Luke will be coaching the same position group at Minnesota for the 2023 season. He will replace former Minnesota assistant head coach and running backs coach Kenni Burns. In December, Burns left Minnesota to become Kent State’s next head coach.

Minnesota will be bringing in a new running backs coach with experience coaching different groups. McKissic-Luke, who was with Northern Illinois since 2020, served as the program’s running backs coach, run game coordinator, and special teams coordinator for the last 3 seasons.

In his new role with Minnesota, McKissic-Luke will be able to focus on the running backs. McKissic-Luke will likely work directly with Minnesota offensive line coach and run game coordinator Brian Callahan.

Before McKissic-Luke was an assistant coach at Northern Illinois, he spent time at Youngstown State, South Dakota State, and Bendict College. While coaching at Youngstown State, McKissic-Luke was the running backs coach and special teams coordinator from 2016 to 2019.

As a college football player, McKissic-Luke played 2 seasons at Alabama from 2002 to 2003 and another 3 seasons at Alabama A&M from 2004 to 2006. As Minnesota’s running backs coach, McKissic-Luke will need to fill the void that will be left behind with running back Mohamed Ibrahim leaving Minnesota.