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MINOT, N.D. (AP) A former college football coach who was cleared in a child pornography investigation in Minnesota is the new head coach at Minot State.
Todd Hoffner leaves Minnesota State-Mankato to become the 19th head coach for the Beavers.
''It was important for me to get closer to my roots,'' Hoffner said in a news release, adding that his family is just 90 miles away. ''And I wanted to stay at the scholarship level that we are at.''
He did not return calls to The Associated Press seeking comment.
His wife, Melodee Hoffner, told the Star Tribune that her husband has applied for dozens of football coaching jobs, but even old colleagues wouldn't invite him to work at football camps last summer.
''I have not seen him happy in almost two years,'' Melodee Hoffner said.
Todd Hoffner was charged with possession of child pornography in August 2012 after school officials found videos of his naked children on his work-issued cellphone, which he had turned in to be repaired. A judge cleared him three months later, ruling that the short videos of his children acting silly after a bath were not child porn and showed nothing illegal. Minnesota State removed him as head coach and later fired him.
Hoffner, a former University of South Dakota offensive coordinator, spent four seasons as the coach at Minnesota State, from 2008-2012. He compiled a 34-13 record and coached the Mavericks to three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division championships - in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Minot State plays in the NSIC's North Division.
At Minot State, Hoffner replaces Paul Rudolph, who resigned on Jan. 2 after seven seasons to become the offensive coordinator at North Dakota. More than 100 people applied to succeed him. The other two finalists were Wayne State defensive coordinator Mike Aldrich and Wisconsin-Stevens Point offensive coordinator Aaron Vlcko.
