Alert issued across Minnesota through Tuesday 

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

The University of Minnesota on Tuesday fired head football coach Tracy Claeys. 

The firing follows months of turmoil in the program over allegations of sexual assault by members of the team and the responses to those allegations by Claeys and university leaders.

"This decision is about the future of Minnesota football," athletics director Mark Coyle said in a statement on Tuesday. "Moving forward, we need a leader who sets high expectations athletically, academically, and socially." 

Most of Claeys' assistants also were fired. The U said coaches Dan O'Brien and Mike Sherels agreed to remain to help with the transition.

Hundreds sign petition calling for firing of Gopher football coach

Ten players were suspended from the football team after an on-campus investigation found them guilty of violating school policy. That investigation says the athletes were involved in what a student described as multiple sexual assaults of the same woman.

On Friday, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said he reviewed the university's more detailed internal report. He called the men's conduct "deplorable" but added that there was no significant new evidence that would enable prosecutors to bring charges.

The team briefly boycotted all football activities after the suspensions were announced. Claeys 

 of his players, which some criticized as tone deaf and insensitive. 

At Minnesota, a boycott is over but tensions are not

Coyle said Tuesday that the tweet and fallout from the sexual assault investigation weren't the only reasons for Claeys' firing. 

"This isn't about one specific incident. I've been here six months," Coyle said. "I think the events of the past few weeks underscored the concerns and some of the things I've been seeing with [the football program.]"

At a press conference Tuesday night, Coyle acknowledged frustrations from football players and others with his decision to fire Claeys. 

Coyle said he wasn't pressured to fire the coach.

"I get that fans are frustrated. I get that students are frustrated, I hear them. I read those emails, I really do and I try to respond to them when I can," he said. "But I did not feel pressure from the outside forces."

Education News

NewsPartners

Matt Sepic

Author

A University of Minnesota Athletics Department official confirmed the firing, which follows months of turmoil in the program over allegations of sexual assault by 10 members of the team.

Coach Tracey Claeys during the Holiday Bowl.

U fires Tracy Claeys as Gophers football coach

Go Deeper.

Like this?