Gophers Hire New Football Coach

The Gophers fired Tracy Claeys three days ago, and have already found his replacement.

P.J. Fleck, the former head coach at Western Michigan University, signed a contract to become the next head coach at the University of Minnesota worth $18.5 million over five years.

Fleck is taking over a Gophers team that went 9-4 last season, including a win in the Holiday Bowl against Washington State University.

In a statement today, the University of Minnesota's athletic director Mark Coyle said, "He's built a unique, positive culture that gets the best out of his students on the field and in the classroom. His infectious energy and passion make him a terrific coach and dynamic recruiter. I am excited he will be leading the Gophers for years to come."

Fleck has had plenty of coaching experience, and will look to take the Gophers in a new direction. Personally, I was excited to see that the Gophers landed their man. This was the guy that was on the top of their list, and they went out and got him.

The question is, how will this new addition affect recruitment? Well, Fleck is known of being a solid recruiter who can bring the best out of players. We will just have to see if he can do that same with the University of Minnesota.

The Gophers are not known for being a powerhouse football school, but with the hottest coach on the market, they might be well on their way to becoming one of the top schools in the Big Ten.

Fleck has had plenty of coaching experience, including as a head coach last season, when he took the Western Michigan Broncos to a 13-1 record. Their only defeat was to the Wisconsin Badgers in the Cotton Bowl, 24-16. The Broncos finished ranked 12th in the nation.