The Minnesota Golden Gophers football program was thrown into a bit of turmoil with Jerry Kill’s sudden retirement as head coach, and since then two close losses have built the case for interim head coach/defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys to get the job long-term. Claeys has openly campaigned for the job virtually since being introduced as the interim head coach, and he has now been given a three-year deal worth $4.5 million to be the Minnesota’s head football coach going forward beyond this season.
Claeys led the Golden Gophers to a 4-3 record when he filled in for Kill in 2013, and his only head coaching experience has been when Kill dealt with health issues going back to the coaching staff’s previous stops.