Gopher athletic director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners earlier this week he doesn’t think the University will lose Tim Brewster as its football coach after this season. The Gophers have drawn national attention for their surprising 6-1 start after being 1-11 last season and there’s some early speculation about Brewster winning college coach of the year awards.
In the win or else world of college football, there are attractive job openings every fall. Clemson is using an interim coach and the University of Washington job is almost a cinch to become available. Tennessee and Syracuse are other possibilities.
The 48-year-old Brewster is a hot name at the moment because people look at Gopher football as almost a graveyard for coaches, yet the dynamic coach has been raising Minnesota’s profile with his aggressive recruiting and the team’s No. 24 national ranking. The assumption is if he can win at Minnesota, just think how he could flourish at a school with more resources.
With five games remaining on the schedule, including a possible loss tomorrow at Purdue, the Gophers and Brewster still have lots to prove. But there’s no doubt that as of today the season is a success for the Minnesota program and has thrust Brewster’s name into the speculative candidate pool among high profile young coaches. If you ran a search firm, this guy is on your “A” watch list.
Maturi was asked on Tuesday if he’s concerned about losing Brewster to another school after this season. “In all honesty, no,” Maturi said. “Because I think Tim Brewster believes this is a good fit for him, just like I believe he is a good fit for us. …”
Maturi mentioned past speculation that highly respected basketball coach Tubby Smith would leave the Gophers after last season, his first in Minneapolis. Maturi said he thinks both Smith and Brewster are “really happy here.” Maturi detailed the elements he believes both men enjoy including the local lifestyle, the University, support from the administration and belief they “can win” here. If all that is in place, then Maturi asks, “What rainbow are you chasing?”
Brewster confirmed his job satisfaction to Sports Headliners. “I am very happy with what I am doing,” he said. “I am very focused on…allowing the Gophers to reclaim their rightful place amongst the elite teams in college football and that’s going to take a lot of hard work. I enjoy that. I enjoy the prospect of building this program back into something that’s very special. I don’t know how many times you can do that. It takes a tremendous amount of passion and energy, and so I am pouring my heart and soul into this program.”
Brewster reportedly signed a five-year contract for about $1 million per year when he came here in January of 2006 from the Denver Broncos where he had been an assistant coach. His salary is low compared to what many coaches at major schools earn but Maturi reviews the work of all coaches in his department annually and a lot of Gopher wins this fall is likely to produce a raise.
Maturi isn’t worried about finding the money to reward his coach. One resource will be increased revenues from moving into the new TCF Bank Stadium next season. Another will be more cash flow from a winning and improved team. “We’ll do the right thing,” Maturi said. “We don’t have a lot of money in the bank but we’re not broke. …”
Maturi hired Brewster, a career assistant coach in the pros and college, a man who had never been a head coach or coordinator on those levels. He saw a guy who had a national reputation as an exceptional recruiter and a man who others told him could coach, too.
As Maturi said, it’s been a nice fit so far.