Minnesota names interim Tracy Claeys its permanent head coach

Minnesota has removed the interim label from Tracy Claeys and named him the new head coach of the Golden Gophers.

Claeys, the team’s former defensive coordinator, takes over for Jerry Kill, who resigned on Oct. 28 because of health reasons. Claeys had served on Kill’s staff for 21 years and five different programs.

He signed a three-year contract that will begin in February and run through the 2018 season. He’ll make $1.4 million next year with $100,000 raises in each of the next two seasons.

"The circumstances of the past few weeks have been unpredictable," Claeys said in a statement. "This certainly is not the way anyone wants to become a head coach. Coach Kill is one of my best friends and I am thankful that he took a chance on me 21 years ago"

Kill has coached the Gophers against No. 15 Michigan and No. 1 Ohio State and both games have resulted in close losses for the Gophers. Overall, he’s 4-5 as an interim head coach after coaching seven games in 2013 while Kill was on a medical hiatus.

The Gophers are currently 4-5 and finish the regular season with games against Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.

For more Minnesota news, GopherIllustrated.com.

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