Report: Claeys hires Minnesota native as OC, lands former UW O-line coach
Tracy Claeys is bringing a Minnesota native back to his home state.
According to the Star-Tribune, Claeys is set to bring Louisiana-Lafayette offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson on board in the same role.
Johnson would take over the void left after Minnesota fired offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover and quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski.
A Lakeville, Minn. native, Johnson spent the last five seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette, where he led the offense to school records in total yards and scoring. They also had three straight nine-win seasons under Johnson’s leadership.
Before that, Johnson was actually the quarterbacks coach at Central Michigan, who Minnesota beat in the Quick Lane Bowl on Monday night.
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Claeys also reportedly hired a former Wisconsin offensive line coach to take over the same position.
Florida Atlantic offensive line coach Bart Miller will take over the Limegrover’s duties. The 30-year-old assistant was part of Bret Bielema’s staff at Wisconsin, but he wasn’t kept when Gary Andersen took over following Bielema’s sudden departure to Arkansas.
Johnson and Miller would be tasked with turning around an offense that finished 103rd in total offense and 75th in passing. They would have the benefit of freshman tailbacks Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks back in the fold, and quarterback Mitch Leidner will be back for his senior season, as well.
Minnesota was reportedly planning on making the official announcement of the hirings on Tuesday.