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.
Fruechte, who played wideout for the Gophers from 2012-14, has been the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for North Dakota since 2024. The Caledonia, Minn., native, who had a playing stint with the Vikings, has also coached at Winona State, Northern State, Northern Iowa and Wisconsin-La Crosse.
The Gophers are also planning to hire former 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.
Minnesota is also working to bring in Daniel Da Prato to be the next special teams coordinator after Bob Ligashesky was not retained after last season. 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.
The Gophers have one remaining coaching vacancy at outside linebackers/nickel backs.
Simon, a Farmington native, had been on Fleck’s staff for more than a decade, dating to Western Michigan in 2014. He has also served as co-offensive coordinator the last few seasons.
Related Articles
Besides Koi Perich, who’s leaving Gophers via the transfer portal?
Gophers lose running backs coach Jayden Everett to Wisconsin
Gophers football: Koi Perich will hit the transfer portal
Gophers cornerback Za’Quan Bryan to enter transfer portal
Gophers won’t retain special teams coach Bob Ligashesky
Leave a Reply