Coyle: Tracy Claeys Will Return As Gophers Football Coach

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – As the University of Minnesota football team awaits its bowl fate, their coaching staff is getting some security.

University of Minnesota Athletic Director Mark Coyle announced Monday that head coach Tracy Claeys has his "full support" and that the coaching staff will return next season. Coyle and Claeys are working on a contract extension, which has not yet been finalized.

"He is our head football coach. As is the case with every one of our head coaches, he has my full support. I will do whatever I can to help him and our students achieve at the highest levels," Coyle said Monday of Claeys.

Sources tell WCCO's David McCoy a contract extension is expected soon, a must for the program's recruiting purposes.

The Gophers finished 8-4 this season, including a 5-4 mark in Big Ten play. It was their third season in the last four with at least eight victories.

Minnesota finished the regular season with a 31-17 loss at Wisconsin after having a 17-7 lead at the half. The Gophers won just five games in the 2015 regular season before beating Central Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl. Claeys was named the permanent head coach last October after Jerry Kill had to retire due to health issues with seizures.

The Gophers went 3-0 in non-conference play this year and got Big Ten victories over Maryland, Rutgers, Illinois, Purdue and Northwestern. The Gophers had halftime leads over Penn State, Nebraska and Wisconsin before losing tough games.

The potential for the Gophers is there, and Coyle cited a commitment to growing the football program.

"We expect that our program will continue to grow and I am committed to putting us in a position to do so," Coyle said. "This includes working with Coach Claeys to evaluate where we need to improve and what each of us can do to ensure we meet our expectations."

Since taking over for Kill, Claeys has led the program to a 10-8 record.