Minnesota officially hires new DL coach
Minnesota officially has its next defensive line coach.
On Friday afternoon, the Golden Gophers announced the addition of Brick Haley to the 2022 staff. He was last at Missouri, where he was in the same role from 2017-2020.
In the SEC, Haley has also had stops at LSU (2004-06) and LSU (2009-14). He’s worked with the NFL’s Chicago Bears (2007-09) and at Texas (2015-16) as a defensive line coach, as well.
Welcome to the Maroon & Gold, @CoachBrickHaley!
📰: https://t.co/gBk5dTrVkI#RTB // #SkiUMah // #Gophers pic.twitter.com/bD6ZkCtu1r
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) January 14, 2022
Haley will be replacing former Minnesota defensive line coach Chad Wilt, who is leaving the Twin Cities to become the defensive coordinator at Indiana. The Hoosiers were in the market after previous defensive coordinator Charlton Warren left IU for a job at North Carolina.
Minnesota’s defensive line was one of the most underrated units in the B1G during the 2021 season. Having Boye Mafe, Thomas Rush, Nyles Pinckney and Esezi Otomewo along the front proved to be a tall task to contain for most offensive lines last fall.
Haley will be tasked with developing several young defensive linemen, as the Gophers lose a lot of production to graduation and the NFL. His experience working at multiple premier programs should be beneficial for PJ Fleck and the staff.