The Minnesota Football Coaches Association’s clinic last weekend had a record attendance of 1,150, about 275 more than last year.
At the clinic Bethel’s Steve Johnson was presented the Tom Mahoney Man of the Year award. In 22 seasons at Bethel, Johnson has made the Royals an MIAC power and gained admiration as a mentor.
The coaches association also announced that Brainerd’s Ron Stolski is the 2010 Coach of the Year. Stolski became the state’s prep leader in career wins last fall.
Gophers head coach Jerry Kill spoke at the clinic. He said players who show lack of effort may find themselves wearing a t-shirt that says: “Minnesota Loafers.”
Kill places emphasis on special teams. He said a team that blocks a punt wins the game about 90 percent of the time. In three seasons coaching at Northern Illinois, his teams blocked 12 punts. In seven years at Southern Illinois the total was 28.
New Gophers’ offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover told Sports Headliners that wide receiver Da’Jon McKnight is a “phenomenal player.” He’s working for the first time with McKnight in spring practice and the Dallas native led the Gophers in receiving last season with 750 yards and 10 touchdown catches.
The Gophers were 3-9 last season and ranked 10th in both scoring and total offense among Big Ten teams, but Limegrover said “we have some pretty talented kids.” He likes the attitude of his players in spring practice. “We haven’t had to coach effort,” he said.
The MIAC is one of three conferences with 10 teams in the Division III Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings. The standings are determined by a team’s performance in NCAA Division III Championship events in up to 18 sports – nine women’s and nine men’s. St. Thomas is the leading MIAC school, ranking No. 20 with 335 points. The Tommies won the national men’s basketball title last month under coach Steve Fritz.