Former Yote Head Coach at Minot St.

[coyotecrazie5]

Former Yote Byron Thomas, who was the D coordinator at Minot St. will replace former USD O-coordinator Todd Hoffner as head coach who is returning to Mankato. It is an interim position.

www.argusleader.com/story/sports/2014/04/16/minot-state-names-former-usd-player-interim-head-football-coach/7768473/

MINOT, N.D. — Minot State University has named an interim head football coach, after newly hired coach Todd Hoffner decided to return to his old job in Minnesota after just 75 days at the northern North Dakota school.

MSU hired Hoffner in late January. On Tuesday he decided to return to Minnesota State, Mankato. An arbitrator recently ruled that Hoffner had been wrongly fired from the Minnesota school about a year ago after charges were dismissed in an unfounded child pornography case.

Matt Zimmer: To get his life back, Hoffner had to take his job back

Minot State defensive coordinator Byron Thomas will assume head coaching duties and lead the Beavers through the final two weeks of spring practice, the school said Tuesday night.

Thomas, a native of Palmdale, Calif., who played four seasons at the University of South Dakota, was hired in February by Hoffner, a former offensive coordinator at USD. Thomas came to Minot State after a year as the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Culver-Stockton College in Missouri and one season each at Texas A&M and South Florida.

Along with his defensive coordinator duties, Thomas was an integral part of Minot State's recruiting efforts over the past two months, the school said in a statement.

Minot State athletic director Rick Hedberg on Tuesday said the school would move forward quickly to find a permanent replacement for Hoffner, whose contract with MSU did not block him from leaving.

Most of Minot State's players assembled in their MSU Dome locker room Tuesday to watch a live video stream of Hoffner's announcement.

"A lot of emotions were running through everybody's head at that moment," two-year starting quarterback Zac Cunha told the Minot Daily News. "It was unfortunate that happened.

"It's his decision and I respect that," Cunha said. "He did what's best for his family. Now we can start moving forward."

Hoffner said Tuesday that he would be "forever grateful" to Minot State for hiring him when he thought he might never coach again.

[Yote 53]

I don't know why Hoffner would go back to Mankato after the way he was treated. Mankato is a much better job than Minot so I'm guessing the plan is to have some success at Mankato and then look to upgrade from there ASAP.

[88grad]

This whole thing was an absolute catastrophe from the beginning. Mankato totally botched this thing up from start to finish. I only wish the best for Coach Hoffner and that he can move forward personally and professionally. I'm also super happy for Byron Thomas. I've knew him as a player and had nothing but good memories of watching him grow up. I also wish him the best of luck!

[Yotes]

What a mess. I too hope Hoffner is moving as soon as he can.

[sloberknocker]

sounds like the players at msu are rallying around the current head coach just heard the end of the story on ksfy.will have to check this out

[Yotes]

Apparently the players are refusing to play for Hoffner. It's hard to understand, since he recruited most of the kids. Must be something deeper to this whole thing, that deeper something might be why the administration was so quick to put him out in the cold.

[sloberknocker]

sounds like a few players met hoffner and their athletic director before practice and read a prepared statement that said they want to play for the interim head coach the team wants their voice to be heard. wow would not want to be hoffner right now or the administration at msu