MSU-Mankato, ex-coach Hoffner in arbitration

Arbitration hearings are taking place between Minnesota State University-Mankato and the school's former football coach.

Todd Hoffner was cleared of child pornography charges but was fired from his coaching job.

The focus of the arbitration sessions has not been made public. The two sides met most of last week and have more days scheduled, said Josh Tilsen, commissioner of the Bureau of Mediation Services, a state agency that helps resolve labor conflicts.

Hoffner had filed a grievance against the university challenging his initial suspension. Mankato's faculty union, which had challenged the suspension, is involved in the mediation sessions, a Hoffner attorney said.

It isn't clear how long the process will take.

After the pornography charges were dropped last November, the university reassigned Hoffner to an administrative position but fired him in May. Hoffner told ESPN then, that he would like to get back into coaching football.

Tilsen would not talk specifically about the Hoffner case but said: "The arbitrator will take documentary evidence, take written argument and take oral testimony. It's a lot less expensive for the public and for the parties involved than it would be proceeding to district court."

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