This after Koi Perich dropped a bomb Thursday night that he would be seeking other opportunities in the transfer portal. Thankfully his former teammates Anthony Smith, Karter Menz, and Darius Taylor are among his former teammates that are set to return.

It has become customary for P.J. Fleck to lose members of his coaching staff just about every offseason, leaving Minnesota to hire new coaches from the outside and elevate those already inside the program.

Two former MN Gophers land on coaching staff

This time around, Fleck & Co. had to replace multiple coaches, after their RB coach was hired away by Wisconsin, their OLB coach by Purdue and their DL coach was let go. This time around, the Gophers are looking outside-in, bringing back familiar faces who were not with the program last season.

As first reported by Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press, Minnesota is hiring two former Gopher players — Mohamed Ibrahim and Isaac Fruechte as their new running backs and wide receivers coaches, respectively..

The Gophers football program will not retain longtime receivers coach Matt Simon for next season and is in the process of replacing him with Isaac Fruechte, a source told the Pioneer Press on Friday.

The Gophers also are planning to hire record-setting tailback Mo Ibrahim to replace Jayden Everett as its running backs coach, a source said. Everett left for Wisconsin, while Ibrahim, who holds the U’s career rushing record of 4,668 yards, was the running backs coach at Kent State for one season.

Pioneer Press

Isaac Fruechte played a single-game for the Minnesota Vikings, after playing 38 for the Gophers. He has been coaching since, most recently at North Dakota (2024).

Ibrahim logged a single-game for the Detroit Lions in 2023, after rushing for the most yards and touchdowns in MN Gophers history — 4,668 yards and 53 touchdowns. Mo spent one year as Kent State’s running backs coach before returning to Minnesota this offseason.

The Golden Gophers are bringing in the best recruiting class in program history and now Fleck has added young talent to his staff that that should help build these rooms up.

Gophers staff continues to be finalized

There have been some firings and promotions that have left openings elsewhere on Fleck’s staff as well. The one remaining opening, after two more hirings, is the outside linebackers/nickel backs spot.

Minnesota is working to bring in Daniel Da Prato to replace Bob Ligashesky as special teams coach. Da Prato has been the special teams coordinator at New Mexico, and one of his units returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in Minnesota’s 20-17 overtime win over the Lobos in the Rate Bowl.

The U will also be bringing in Travis Moore to be an assistant defensive line coach. He has been the defensive ends coach at Northern Illinois since 2019. He played for the Huskies alongside Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck in the early 2000s.

Pioneer Press

Bob Ligashesky was let go earlier this week and Fleck didn’t waste time replacing him. After coaching against Daniel De Prato in the Rate Bowl, Minnesota swooped up the coach that embarrassed Ligashesky’s unit.

C.J. Robbins and Bobby April have taken spots on the defensive side of the ball, and Travis Moore will come in to work alongside both of them.