Minnesota is elevating a defensive staff member to the role of co-Defensive Coordinator.

On Friday, the Gophers announced that DB coach Paul Haynes has been promoted to the co-DC role in addition to his DBs coaching duties. Haynes originally came to Minnesota in 2020 after a stint at Michigan State and has previous stops around the county, including at Arkansas and Ohio State.

Haynes steps into the co-DC role that was vacated when Joe Harasymiak left to take the full DC role at Rutgers.

“Paul is a tremendous coach and is respected universally throughout college football,” said head coach P.J. Fleck via release. “He is one of the brightest defensive minds in the game and played a huge role in why our defense was able to execute at an extremely high level last season. But more importantly, Paul is an elite teacher of young men who cares about their academic, athletic, social and spiritual development. He also is a tremendous husband and father, and he makes our team and our coaching staff better every day on and off the field. I’m excited for him to have an elevated role in leading our program.”