Tracy Claeys' memorable time at Minnesota comes to a sudden end
2011-2014
Claeys, the team's defensive coordinator, adds "associate head coach" to his title in 2014.
2013 season
Claeys goes 4-3 as acting head coach for the Gophers after Jerry Kill takes leave of absence because of health reasons.
2015 season
Oct. 28: Claeys named interim head coach when Kill retires after seven games.
Nov. 11: The university gives Claeys a three-year contract for permanent coaching job.
Nov. 21: Claeys wins first game as permanent head coach vs. Illinois.
Dec. 28: The Gophers beat Central Michigan 21-14 in the Quick Lane Bowl.
2016 season
Sept. 2: In the early morning hours after the Gophers' season opener, an incident occurs at an apartment near campus involving a woman and multiple players. The woman files a sexual assault report. While police investigate, four players are suspended from the team. The players were not arrested or charged.
Oct. 4: The suspended players are reinstated.
Nov. 2: Restraining orders against four players, which kept them from TCF Bank Stadium, are negotiated down and the players return to full eligibility.
Nov. 26: Claeys completes his first full season as head coach with a disappointing 31-17 loss at Wisconsin. The Gophers finish 8-4 overall in the regular season, 5-4 in the Big Ten.
Nov. 28: Two days after the loss to Wisconsin, Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle answers uncertainty about Claeys returning next season with a statement that says: "He is our head football coach. … He has my full support."
Dec. 13: The U suspends 10 players from the team following a school investigation into an alleged sexual assault in September.
Dec. 15: Claeys finds himself at center of controversy when he tweets his support of his team's boycott over 10 suspended players allegedly involved in a sexual assault, "Have never been more proud of our kids. I respect their rights & support their effort to make a better world!"
Dec. 27: The Gophers upset Washington State in the Holiday Bowl, 17-12.
Dec. 28: Coyle releases another statement, saying in part, "Coach Claeys and I will take this opportunity to reflect on this past season before sitting down together to talk about the future and my expectations for our football program."
Jan. 3, 2017: Coyle fires Claeys.
about the writer
Minnesota’s bench scored 50 points, including a team-leading 18 points from graduate transfer Annika Stewart, showcasing the depth that coach Dawn Plitzuweit promised.