Article

Hoffner hired as new head football coach

With history of coaching nationally ranked teams, Todd Hoffner replaces Jeff Jamrog as head coach

by Josh Berhow
Issue date: 1/29/08 Section: Mens Sports

For the 14th time in the history of Minnesota State football, there will be a new head coach guiding the Mavericks.

Todd Hoffner was introduced as the new head coach Friday evening at the Alltel Center, and further introduced later that night to a crowd of 4,509 during an intermission of the men's hockey game against St. Cloud State.

"I bought a power ball ticket on Sunday, but here I won the Super Bowl," Hoffner said.

Hoffner recently finished his second season as the offensive coordinator for South Dakota - a team he helped score 34 points with against MSU this past season in a Coyotes win - after he spent the prior seven seasons as the head coach for Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

At Eau Claire, Hoffner led the Blugolds to a 46-28 record, and his teams were nationally ranked five times, as high as sixth in the nation at one time.

The selection of Hoffner to guide the Mavericks wasn't an easy one, as he beat out more than 80 candidates, and three others that came in for interviews the past two weeks.

"We faced some difficult decisions. We had four very highly-qualified candidates come to our campus," said director of athletics Kevin Buisman. "But it became clear at the end of the process that one stood alone, and was clearly the best fit for the needs of our program."

"When the team met with him a lot of the guys came out of the meeting bright-eyed," said Ryan Fick, who is first in line to battle for the open spot at quarterback next season. "We're all working hard and ready to go; we're excited."

Hoffner will inherit a promising young squad that will transition into the Northern Sun conference next season. He also referred to the open football-coaching position as a 'gold mine.'

After being introduced Friday as the new coach, Hoffner hasn't wasted any time. He and his assistants hit the road Saturday, and are doing their final recruiting push before the deadline ends the first Wednesday in February.

"Our number-one mission right now is to sign the best class we can to help the future of this program," Hoffner said. "The most important thing I'll ask all our players when they make all their decisions is: How is this going to affect your family? Not only your immediate family, but your football family."

Setting some team goals is usually one of the first aspects of the game a new coach addresses, and Hoffner already has a few in place. Mainly, he wants his team to establish a winning attitude, and mental and physical toughness.

Hoffner has said that he will stress academics before football, and wants all of his student athletes to get an education and graduate, along with being successful on the football field.

"This is a very important hire, not only for MSU football, but for our department and the entire university," Buisman said. "I believe we have a very good opportunity here at Minnesota State."

"He brings a lot of intangibles to the table, and I think he's the perfect guy for this job," Fick said.

Six years ago, Hoffner and his wife visited MSU and had the chance to visit with then athletic director Don Amiot. After the conversation, Hoffner looked at his wife and said, "I'm going to be the next head football coach here some day.

"And now that dream has come true."

Josh Berhow is the Reporter assistant sports editor