About Tracy Claeys
January 29, 2011 at 5:54AM
A CLOSER LOOK
Title: Defensive coordinator
Age: 42
College: 1994 graduate of Kansas State, after transferring from Kansas to be closer to home. Did not play college football but was a staff volunteer as an undergrad at Kansas.
Previous stops: Saginaw Valley (Mich.) State, Emporia (Kansas) State, Southern Illinois, Northern Illinois.
Kill connection: Offered an assistant's job by Kill in 1995 at Saginaw Valley State, and the two have been together since.
Stat facts: The Northern Illinois defense ranked among the national FBS leaders in several categories last season, including scoring defense (No. 14, 18.9 ppg), rushing defense (No. 24, 126.50 ypg), total defense (No. 26, 334.7 ypg) and interceptions (No. 27, with 16).
PHIL MILLER
about the writer
The Gophers quarterback believed in himself, and his transfer to the U has led to a winning record this season.
