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Report: Minnesota takes Utah State OC Mike Sanford Jr. to fill same position
Published:
Minnesota’s offensive coordinator for 2019 was Kirk Ciarrocca. Ciarrocca then left the Golden Gophers for Penn State, to take the same position.
RELATED: P.J. Fleck updates Minnesota’s play-calling duties after losing OC Kirk Ciarrocca
Slightly over a week later, reports state that Minnesota has filled its vacancy:
Utah State OC Mike Sanford Jr. is new offensive coordinator at Minnesota, source told @Stadium. Sanford also previously was coach at Western Kentucky (2017-18) & OC at Notre Dame & Boise State
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 3, 2020
Reports say that Utah State offensive coordinator Mike Sanford Jr. will be the new man in charge of Minnesota’s offense. Matt Simon, the current wide receivers coach, is reportedly becoming a co-offensive coordinator alongside Sanford.
The Golden Gophers are undoubtedly a team on the rise. P.J. Fleck has proven as much. In 2019, the Gophers finished with an 11-2 record — the program’s most wins since 1904.
Sanford, at Utah State, spent one season there. The 37-year-old was the head coach at Western Kentucky from 2017-18. In 2019, Utah State finished 7-6 overall and averaged over 29 points per game while averaging 431.3 yards per contest.
Sanford hasn’t spent time in the Big Ten to this point and was a quarterback at Boise State from 2000-04.
Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.