The University of Minnesota has announced Mark Coyle as its new director of Gopher Athletics, pending approval by the University’s Board of Regents.
Coyle, 47, has been the director of athletics for Syracuse University since June 2015. Prior to Syracuse, he served as athletics director at Boise State University and as deputy athletics director at the University of Kentucky.
This will be a homecoming for Coyle. He served as associate athletic director for external relations at the University of Minnesota from 2001 to 2005, where he was responsible for managing the marketing and sales unit, athletic communications, the ticket office, and licensing. Under his guidance, the marketing staff was recognized as the top staff in the Big Ten Conference.
Coyle visited campus Wednesday to interview with the search committee, and met with coaches and other leaders in Gopher Athletics as well as faculty and senior U leaders as part of the final steps of a comprehensive national search.
He was formally announced at a 4 p.m. news conference in which President Eric Kaler pointed out his many accomplishments in previous posts. “Gopher Athletics is often considered the front door to the U, and is an undeniable touch point for many Minnesotans to our University,” Kaler said. “Today, as Mark Coyle becomes the new leader for this highly visible component of our University, we all have good reason to cheer, and to expect extraordinary and firm leadership.”
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