Report: Board approves contract extension for Minnesota AD Mark Coyle
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents has approved a contract extension for athletic director Mark Coyle, Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press reported on Friday.
With the board approving a two-year extension for Coyle, he will now be in his position through June 2026. He first came to Minnesota in May 2016.
Coyle came to Minnesota after serving as the athletic director at Boise State University and Syracuse University. He was previously involved with Golden Gopher athletics from 2001-05, serving as an athletics administrator.
News: #Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle had a two-year contract extension approved by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents on Friday. His agreement now runs through June 2026.
— Andy Greder (@andygreder) February 14, 2020
As Coyle is now in his fourth academic year at the University of Minnesota, arguably his biggest move was hiring P.J. Fleck to become the next head coach of the football program, swiping him away from Western Michigan. Fleck led the Gophers to a 5-7 season in 2017 before getting winning Paul Bunyan’s Axe in a victory over Wisconsin in 2018, clinching a bowl berth.
Minnesota then went on to defeat Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl.
This season, the Golden Gophers finished one of the best seasons in program season, going 11-2, which included an Outback Bowl victory over Auburn.