Mark Coyle officially approved to be Gophers AD

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents officially approved Mark Coyle's hiring as athletics director Friday in an expected formality.

The university had announced the hiring Wednesday, pending regents approval.

Coyle, 47, received a five-year contract with a base salary of $850,000 per year. He had previously served as the Syracuse AD, but left that post after less than 11 months on the job. Minnesota agreed to pay Syracuse $500,000, covering the buyout in Coyle's contract.

Coyle, who previously worked for the Gophers from 2001 to 2005, primarily in athletics marketing, has been back on campus this week meeting with coaches and staff.

He plans to start his new job after Memorial Day. He will take part in the annual Gopher Road Trip, which features speeches from the AD and coaches, when it starts June 1, with stops in Hutchinson and Perham.