GOPHERS
U leaders called to special meeting Tuesday to discuss Tracy Claeys' future
By JOE CHRISTENSEN , STAR TRIBUNE
January 03, 2017 - 11:11 AM
With Tracy Claeys’ future as Gophers football coach still uncertain, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents have become involved in the discussions.
On Tuesday, Regents chair Dean Johnson and vice chair David McMillan will meet with university President Eric Kaler, Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle, university general counsel Douglas Peterson and others, according to two people familiar with the plan.
Claeys is not scheduled to be at the meeting, and several sources say it’s unclear if he’ll learn Tuesday whether he’ll be retained as coach.
Last Wednesday, Coyle issued a statement that said: “Now that our football team has completed its season following an exciting win in Tuesday night’s Holiday Bowl, Coach Claeys and I will take this opportunity to reflect on this past season before sitting down together to talk about the future and my expectations for our football program.”
After the 17-12 upset over Washington State in San Diego, Claeys headed to see family in Kansas, and Coyle headed to Idaho with his family. Monday was a University holiday, so Tuesday is the first day Claeys, Coyle and other officials have been back in the office.
Scoggins: Keeping Claeys is reasonable option in Gophers' messy situation
Claeys, 48, is 11-8 as Gophers head coach, including 2-0 in bowl games, since replacing Jerry Kill, who resigned for health reasons in October, 2015.
The Gophers won nine games this season for the first time since they went 10-3 under Glen Mason in 2003. But on Dec. 13, Coyle suspended 10 players from the team indefinitely in connection with the alleged Sept. 2 sexual assault.
Hennepin County has twice reviewed the case and declined to press charges, but an internal investigation by the University’s office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EOAA) led to the suspensions.
The EOAA recommended expulsion for Ray Buford, KiAnte Hardin, Carlton Djam, Dior Johnson and Tamarion Johnson, one-year suspensions for Seth Green, Kobe McCrary, Mark Williams and Antoine Winfield Jr., and probation for Antonio Shenault.
Gophers players boycotted all team activities for two days, protesting the administrations handing of the suspensions. After they announced their boycott, Claeys tweeted his support for the players, which publicly aligned him against the administration.
NEXT IN SPORTS
Press box ejection is a reminder of the strange place we often work
Road upset is a shot in the arm for Gophers' confidence
Scoggins: Keeping Claeys is reasonable option in Gophers' messy situation
Scoring is up, and that's bad for Wild's success formula
Vikings carry discontent, uncertain futures out of locker room on cleanup day
MOST READ
U leaders called to special meeting Tuesday to discuss Tracy Claeys' future
By JOE CHRISTENSEN , STAR TRIBUNE
January 03, 2017 - 11:11 AM
With Tracy Claeys’ future as Gophers football coach still uncertain, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents have become involved in the discussions.
On Tuesday, Regents chair Dean Johnson and vice chair David McMillan will meet with university President Eric Kaler, Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle, university general counsel Douglas Peterson and others, according to two people familiar with the plan.
Claeys is not scheduled to be at the meeting, and several sources say it’s unclear if he’ll learn Tuesday whether he’ll be retained as coach.
Last Wednesday, Coyle issued a statement that said: “Now that our football team has completed its season following an exciting win in Tuesday night’s Holiday Bowl, Coach Claeys and I will take this opportunity to reflect on this past season before sitting down together to talk about the future and my expectations for our football program.”
After the 17-12 upset over Washington State in San Diego, Claeys headed to see family in Kansas, and Coyle headed to Idaho with his family. Monday was a University holiday, so Tuesday is the first day Claeys, Coyle and other officials have been back in the office.
Scoggins: Keeping Claeys is reasonable option in Gophers' messy situation
Claeys, 48, is 11-8 as Gophers head coach, including 2-0 in bowl games, since replacing Jerry Kill, who resigned for health reasons in October, 2015.
The Gophers won nine games this season for the first time since they went 10-3 under Glen Mason in 2003. But on Dec. 13, Coyle suspended 10 players from the team indefinitely in connection with the alleged Sept. 2 sexual assault.
Hennepin County has twice reviewed the case and declined to press charges, but an internal investigation by the University’s office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EOAA) led to the suspensions.
The EOAA recommended expulsion for Ray Buford, KiAnte Hardin, Carlton Djam, Dior Johnson and Tamarion Johnson, one-year suspensions for Seth Green, Kobe McCrary, Mark Williams and Antoine Winfield Jr., and probation for Antonio Shenault.
Gophers players boycotted all team activities for two days, protesting the administrations handing of the suspensions. After they announced their boycott, Claeys tweeted his support for the players, which publicly aligned him against the administration.
NEXT IN SPORTS
Press box ejection is a reminder of the strange place we often work
Road upset is a shot in the arm for Gophers' confidence
Scoggins: Keeping Claeys is reasonable option in Gophers' messy situation
Scoring is up, and that's bad for Wild's success formula
Vikings carry discontent, uncertain futures out of locker room on cleanup day
MOST READ
Scoggins: Keeping Claeys is reasonable option in Gophers' messy situation
Road upset is a shot in the arm for Gophers' confidence
Claeys touts program, makes case to stay as Gophers coach
This time, Gophers finish the job in upset over No. 15 Purdue
Cotton Bowl: Wisconsin hands Western Michigan its first loss
- © 2017 Star Tribune
- View desktop site
