The most recent example is Kenni Burns. Burns who transitioned from coaching running backs for the Minnesota Gophers under Fleck to becoming the head coach at Kent State. Burns has now completed two seasons at the helm of the Golden Flashes, finishing with a rough record of 1-23.

In a move that’s neither surprising nor expected, another former assistant of P.J. Fleck has taken up a head coaching position with a team that’s transitioning into the MAC conference. This adds another branch to Fleck’s coaching tree.

Joe Harasymiak to be the Head Coach at UMass

Remember the name Joe Harasymiak? From 2019 to 2021, Harasymiak served as the safeties coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, also stepping up to co-defensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021.

After that, he moved on to Rutgers, where he took on the role of solo defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2024. And now, the latest chapter in his coaching journey sees him heading to UMASS to take the reins of their football program.

Sources: UMass is expected to hire Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak the school’s next head coach. A deal is expected to come together in the near future. He brings strong Northeast ties, including as head coach at Maine. pic.twitter.com/9V6etIYSYx

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 4, 2024

Before joining the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2019, Joe Harasymiak was the head coach at the University of Maine. In just three seasons at the helm, he managed to compile a solid 20-15 record. His tenure culminated in an impressive run to the FCS semifinals in 2018.

Related: Former Gophers and Vikings WR Lands Head Coaching Job at North Dakota

He’s now heading to UMass, an FBS program, and taking a big step up next football season. After spending time as an independent program without a conference, UMass will join the Mid-American Conference (MAC). This move is a solid opportunity for Harasymiak.

In 2021, Harasymiak was a key figure in the Minnesota Gophers’ success, helping the team to a 9-4 record. Alongside Joe Rossi as co-defensive coordinators, Harasymiak was instrumental in shaping one of the nation’s top defenses.

That season, the Gophers’ defense was nothing short of impressive. The Gophers defense ranked 6th in the country by allowing just 17.3 points per game.

Not only did they come in as the No. 5 team in an 18-team Big Ten conference, but they were riding high on a four game winning streak. With three games remaining on the 2024 schedule, even the College Football Playoff wasn’t off the table. Unfortunately, it’s definitely off the table now.

This, after the Minnesota Gophers offense struggled throughout the day in New Jersey, against one of their former defensive coaches (see below). That allowed a 4th quarter fumble, followed by a safety on the next drive, to sink PJ Fleck’s week 11 boat. Ultimately, Minnesota fell on the road Saturday to Rutgers, 26-16.

Minnesota Gophers offense (especially OL) still inconsistent

Athan Kaliakmanis had one of the best performances of his season, on Saturday. He threw for 240 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Meanwhile, Max Brosmer rode the struggle bus vs Rutgers in a way we haven’t seen in recent weeks. On the day, Minnesota’s new QB went 27-of-45 (60%) for 262 yards and 1 TD (0 INT).

Athan Kaliakmanis delivers a STRIKE to Dymere Miller to put Rutgers on top. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/sOYp6fX5bD

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 9, 2024

We didn’t learn today that Max Brosmer is a better quarterback than Athan Kaliakmanis. We knew that before he ever played a game under center for the Minnesota Gophers, just based on how the coaching staff talked about him during the preseason.

Today, in one of Brosmer’s worst showings of the season, he still made better decisions and played way more efficiently than Kaliakmanis did. No matter how this game would have ended, there are no questions about which squad has the better quarterback. Unfortunately, Max’s offensive line didn’t come to play in New Jersey.

Related: NFL Draft Expert Not Sold on Minnesota Gophers Left Tackle

What we did learn is that the Minnesota Gophers offense, which is one of the more talented bunches in the Big Ten, underperformed in the biggest moment of the season, especially on the offensive line. Entering the season, the OL was supposed to be this team’s best and deepest position group.

That's a safety for @RFootball 🔼#B1GFootball on Peacock 💻 pic.twitter.com/ERm7XNnp2K

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 9, 2024

Unfortunately, especially in the four losses this season, they have been anything but that. Max Brosmer is really good and Darius Taylor might be the best running back in the Big Ten. But if the former can’t get any time in the pocket and the latter doesn’t have any holes to run through, talent doesn’t matter.

Defense wins championships when offense disappears

The real MVP from Saturday’s game vs Rutgers was the Minnesota Gophers defense. After getting popped in the mouth repeatedly by Athan Kaliakmanis and backup Scarlet Knights running backs in the first half, Greg Harbaugh’s defense came for scarlet blood in the 2nd half.

Rutgers scored 14 points in the first two quarters, thanks to 267 total yards of offense (216 through the air), the Gophers came out with a completely different type of commitment on that side of the ball for quarters three and four.

Related: Minnesota Gophers Kicker Takes Home Big Ten Weekly Honor

So much commitment, in fact, that the Scarlet Knights posted just 33 yards of total offense in the 3rd quarter. After his HUGE first half, Kaliakmanis went 3-of-13 for 24 yards and 1 TD in the entire second half.

#Gophers defense did its job in this second half.

The offense has not.

— GopherHole.com (@GopherHole) November 9, 2024

But there was a problem for Minnesota in the 2nd half. After scoring a touchdown on their first drive of the half, the Gophers’ offense ran completely out of gas and the Scarlet Knights defense answered the bell, after their own offense started riding the struggle bus.

Rutgers’ last touchdown of the game, which put them up 20-16 with just 7:40 remaining in the 4th quarter, happened because they forced a Minnesota fumble at their own 10 yard line, the Gophers first turnover since the 2nd quarter vs USC. One phantom PI call and a broken coverage easy TD pass later, PJ Fleck & Co were in trouble.

RUTGERS BALL ‼️😤 @RFootball #B1GFootball on Peacock 💻 pic.twitter.com/vqKS0npaBi

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 9, 2024

Rutgers running backs accumulated just 27 yards on the ground… until their final drive of the game, when they ran all over the Minnesota defense, positioning the Scarlet Knights for a field goal that put them up 10 and iced the game.

There are no easy games in the 2024 Big Ten

But former Gopher QB Athan Kaliakmanis, along with former University of Minnesota coaches Kirk Ciarrocca (OC) and Joe Harasymiak (DC) now leading the show on both sides of the ball for Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights were not going to hand PJ Fleck and their new QB Max Brosmer an easy victory.

Without a doubt, this was the best game Rutgers has played in weeks, and that isn’t surprising, given the familiarity between coaching staffs and the revenge storylines surrounding today’s Big Ten contest.

Related: Minnesota Gophers Snubbed in Both Polls, Especially AP

From the opening kick, this one was a slobberknocker between two teams that know each other way too well, especially when this is only the second time they’ve played each other since 2019. But again, that’s what happens when most of the members from both coaching staffs have coached together, at one point or another in their careers.

Rutgers came into Saturday’s contest on a four-game losing streak, but they had been playing better of late, at least on offense, where they put up a total of 52 points over the past two weeks. Their problem has been on defense… but that wasn’t a huge problem vs the Minnesota Gophers.

That’s because, no matter who the opponent is in this conference, even if they have given up 133 points over their past four games. If you don’t bring it every single week, in every facet of the game, you will lose, especially if you aren’t Ohio State.

The Golden Gophers were not good on offense vs Rutgers this weekend, especially in the trenches, and the defense was extremely inconsistent. It doesn’t matter who you play in the Big Ten, your team will likely lose when that is the case. Minnesota found that out on Saturday.

He’s using Minnesota as a stepping stone for his career and there’s nothing wrong with that. While here, he’s helped Rossi build a secondary that, even when the rest of the defense has struggled, has mostly held its own and helped launch the careers of Antoine Winfield Jr and Benjamin St-Juste into the NFL.

Next stop UConn?

Joe Harasymiak has already gotten serious looks as an FBS head coach and was one of two finalists for the University of Buffalo job last offseason. He eventually lost out to the other finalist, Maurice Linguist. A New Jersey native, Harasymiak will get extra attention from the smaller or struggling east coast schools. Like the University of Connecticut, better known as “UConn”.

Current coach, Randy Edsall, announced his resignation this afternoon. The Athletic has already named Joe Harasymiak as an obvious candidate for the Huskies to look at.

UCONN head coach Randy Edsall announces that he will retire at the end of this season.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) September 5, 2021

Joe Harasymiak: Minnesota co-defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak, another Jersey native, produced some excellent defenses at Maine before becoming the head coach there. He went 10-4 and led the Black Bears to the FCS semifinals. He was in the mix for the Buffalo head coaching search earlier this year.

Bruce Feldman – The Athletic

Dumpster Fire

The University of Connecticut football program is a complete dumpster fire right now and the talk of social media. Not in a good way. The rock bottom condition the program is in could be what lands or deters Harasymiak from landing or taking the job.

In The Athletic’s article, Feldman mentions the desperate state of the team as something that could keep some of the top candidates from considering the position. Remember, they opted out of last season and hadn’t played football for over 600 days, leading up to their opener on August 28. Harasymiak is the 8th candidate listed, meaning he might not be their top option.

Joe is known as a coach full of fire and someone who fits into exactly what PJ Fleck wants in his staff members. Energy and commitment to excellence. I have zero doubt he’d be able to turn that desperate UConn program into something that resembles FBS again. We’ll keep an eye on what happens next.

2nd game of the season and UConn is ready to call it quits pic.twitter.com/9yIW3ayb0G

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 5, 2021

UConn just paid Holy Cross $425,000 for a Loss pic.twitter.com/vysSZ3a5SY

— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) September 4, 2021

lmao UConn’s defense has Holy Cross’ quarterback looking like Devin Hester running back a punt out there https://t.co/UY4z5s0BHt

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 4, 2021

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Minnesota Gophers Defensive Coordinator, Joe Rossi tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, per a university release this morning. He will not coach vs the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, in Champaign. Defensive Backs, Safeties and Co-Defensive Coordinator, Joe Harasymiak will call plays in Rossi’s absence.

Rossi’s first positive test came via antigen testing, earlier in the week. It was later confirmed by a second PCR test. No other coaches have tested positive.

More on Joe Harasymiak

Joe Harasymiak was a coveted hire for PJ Fleck before the 2019 season. Harasymiak was seen as a rising young coaching star after turning a Maine program (FCS) around in just three seasons. He and Rossi are tight and that’s why he came to Minnesota in the first place.

PJ Fleck also said that Harasymiak’s title would be dictated by Joe Rossi, when he was first hired. If that still holds true, then his “co-defensive coordinator” position would’ve been handed down by Rossi, himself.

F.A.M.I.L.Y.

Joe Rossi has received a lot of criticism for the terrible start of this Minnesota Gophers defense. Earlier this week when asked about Rossi, PJ Fleck had nothing but good things to say. No matter how things go Saturday, don’t expect Joe Rossi to go anywhere.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

In an interesting development today, PJ Fleck added an assistant coach to his staff. Joe Harasymiak climbed his way through the Maine coaching ladder, as someone who wasn’t getting paid, up and into the head coaching job.

Can confirm @PeteThamel report that #Minnesota is hiring #Maine coach Joe Harasymiak for an assistant position. The job is still TBD, but I'm told Harasymiak, who led Maine to the FCS playoff semis, is close with Joe Rossi, who took over as Gophers D-coordinator late this fall.

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 20, 2018

He was average his first two seasons as a head coach. His team finished 6-5 and 4-6 in freshman and sophomore years respectively. He blew shit up in his third season, finishing 8-3 before losing to Eastern Washington in the FCS Semifinals.

This looks like a Joe Rossi hire. He and Harasymiak crossed paths briefly at Maine and PJ has said that Rossi is going to be in charge of what title Harasymiak holds while here. It was also Joe Rossi that spoke with the media after the hire was announced.

This is just the latest in positive signs that the Gopher Football program is moving in the right direction. Some people believed that Joe Harasymiak deserved a head coaching job at a major college this season but that clearly didn’t happen. I’m sure he believes this move will get him closer to that goal than another year at Maine would have.

That’s saying something.