If there has been a constant for P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota Gophers coaching staff this offseason it’s that they are on to bigger and better things. After an up and down season ended with a victory in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, the 8-year head coach has seen multiple assistant coaches exit for other jobs.
In January, defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman was hired away by the Miami Hurricanes for the same job, and a pay raise. The Gophers replaced him internally with defensive backs coach, Danny Collins. But that wasn’t the only coaching loss Minnesota has suffered this offseason.
Nic McKissic-Luke leaving Minnesota Gophers for NFL
Earlier this week, Fleck lost one of the fastest rising young defensive coaches in football — former U of M defensive lineman turned D-line coach Winston DeLattiboudere — when the 27-year-old Gophers assistant head coach was hired by the Arizona Cardinals.
Then on Friday, running backs coach Nic McKissic-Luke became the second Gopher coach leave for the NFL, when he accepted a job with the New York Jets.
The #Jets are targeting University of Minnesota’s Nic McKissic-Luke for their running backs coach job, sources tell me and @RyanBurnsMN for @CBSSports/@247Sports.
At Minnesota, he’s coached standout running back Darius Taylor, who rushed for 10 touchdowns this season.… pic.twitter.com/wvOgu18vkS
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 7, 2025
The New York Jets recently hired Aaron Glenn as their next head coach. Former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is also part of the organization. McKissic-Luke will be looking to get the most out of Breece Hall and former Wisconsin Badger Braelon Allen.
McKissic-Luke joined the Gophers coaching staff in January of 2023 after working for Northern Illinois. He worked as the Gophers running back coach the past two seasons and helped star running back Darius Taylor to blossom.
Over two seasons with the Gophers, Taylor has played in 18 games rushing for 1,785 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2024 as a Sophomore, Darius piled up 54 receptions for 350 yards and 2 more touchdowns. This after just 11 receptions and 92 receiving yards as a freshman.
DARIUS TAYLOR CANNOT BE STOPPED 🏃♂️
His 3️⃣rd TD of the day is an 80-yard rushing TD 💨#B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork 📺 pic.twitter.com/lso5BHrt9m
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 14, 2024
Related: Gophers QB Max Brosmer Rewarded for Big Week at East-West Shrine Bowl Practice
Fleck’s assistant losses have been thanks to large pay raises and/or significant promotions. It remains to be seen where Fleck will turn for McKissic-Lukes’ replacement. Gophers legend Mohamed Ibrahim just took a coaching opportunity with Kent State, so he’d assumedly be out of the running (pun intended).
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