Minnesota Gophers have hired two coordinators: Corey Hetherman on defense and Bob Ligashesky on special teams

Former Rutgers linebackers coach Corey Hetherman was hired as defensive coordinator, and former Syracuse special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky was hired as special teams coordinator, filling two high-profile positions on coach P.J. Fleck’s staff.

The announcement was made by the Gophers on Monday. Hetherman will also serve as linebackers coach, a position he held for two seasons at Rutgers. From 2019 to 2021, he was the defensive coordinator at James Madison, where he won the American Football Coaches Association’s FCS Assistant Coach of the Year honor.

Hetherman was also the defensive coordinator at Maine for three seasons. He takes over for Joe Rossi, who left Minnesota after five seasons to take the same position at Michigan State.

Ligashesky takes over for Rob Wenger, who has been with the Gophers since Fleck took over in 2017.

Ligashesky has spent the last two years at Syracuse after previously working at six different FBS universities, including five seasons as the special teams coordinator at Illinois (2016-2020). He coached for seven NFL clubs for 12 years, including more than eight as special teams coordinator. Ligashesky and Fleck worked as assistants with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012.