Source: Minnesota interim head coach Tracy Claeys gaining support to keep job permanently
Don't be surprised if interim Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys keeps the head coaching job full time.
A source told FOX Sports Wednesday that there are a lot of key supporters in Claeys' corner pushing for him to retain the job beyond just the rest of this season.
Claeys' mentor Jerry Kill was beloved by Gopher brass and the fact that Claeys is seen as an extension of the 54-year-old coach, who had to retire last week due to health concerns, is very compelling for power brokers at Minnesota, according to the source. Kill has also been vocal in stumping for the 46-year-old Claeys, his former defensive coordinator, to get the job permanently, which would also help ensure that a coaching staff that has been together for more than a dozen years would remain intact.
The Gophers lost in the final seconds last week against Michigan and have a tough path in Claeys' five-game stint to finish out this season. Illinois, at 4-4, is the easiest of the five games Minnesota had lined up for Claeys. This week, the Gophers go to No. 3 Ohio State and then travel to No. 9 Iowa. The season finale is against Wisconsin. While it seemed like Claeys might need his team to go 3-2 over that rough stretch to land the job, I'm hearing it may not require that much after all.
The Gophers went 4-3 in 2013 when Claeys was appointed as acting head coach while Kill took a leave of absence for his epilepsy.
