Search for new Gophers football coach begins
Glen Mason coached the Golden Gophers for 10 years and never won a Big Ten championship. And in the end, Mason's losing record in the Big Ten was a key reason why the U of M let Mason go.
One of Mason's supporters says Mason deserved better, though. Former University of Minnesota Mens' Athletics Director Mark Dienhart says Mason took a program that had six consecutive losing years and brought it back to respectability. The University had just extended Mason's contract last year. Dienhart says firing Mason in light of that extension could give pause to potential replacements.
"I'm sure that people who are coming in here looking at this job as a possibility for themselves are looking at that and thinking how long is the leash I'm going to have and what does all this mean and what's sort of patience will the community and the University have for me?" says Dienhart.
There are people that can take programs from near disaster and bring them up to respectability and mediocrity, and then there are people who are necessary to come forth and take them from that point to the greatness that we're looking for....
The head of one of the U of M football booster clubs disagrees. Al Schrader is president of the U of M's Touchdown Club. Schrader says the team is in the finest conference in the U.S. He says he hopes U of M athletic director Joel Maturi takes the time to hire a coach that will take the team to even greater levels of success.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
"There are people that can take programs from near disaster and bring them up to respectability and mediocrity, and then there are people who are necessary to come forth and take them from that point to the greatness that we're looking for to become a big ten power and a nationally-ranked team," Schrader says. The president of the U of M's Goal Line Club, Teresa Grim says she would love to see former Gopher quarterback, Tony Dungy coach the team. Dungy is currently head coach for the Indianapolis Colts.
"That's the first name right off the top of my head that I think would be a great, great asset to the University of Minnesota and the football program," Grim says.
Neither Dungy nor Colts officials could be reached for comment.
Dave Mona agrees that Dungy heads the list of potential replacements, but Mona says there are other names worth considering as well. Mona is a team booster and does color commentary for Gopher football radio broadcasts.
"Frank Solich, the former coach at the University of Nebraska who had a winning record, but was dismissed there--he's now gone to Ohio which is traditionally a difficult place to win and he's got them in a bowl game this year. You'll see some people in favor of Craig Bohl, who's done a great job at North Dakota State who I think impressed a lot of people with the team that he brought down to the metrodome," Mona says.
The U will unveil its plans for the new football stadium on Wednesday. Mason was earning $1.65 million annually. The U of M will have to spend more than $2 million to buy him out. Mason's also entitled to about another million dollars in deferred compensation.
