BREAKING: Minnesota Gopher Football Confirms Major coaching Decision just now
Ryan Burns revisits the 2025 contracts for Minnesota Gophers football coach PJ Fleck and his ten on-field assistants, updating an analysis he first published in January. Since then, defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman left for Miami (Fla.), and the NFL hired Winston DeLattiboudere and Nic McKissic-Luke. Minnesota has since filled these vacancies, though not all hires have been officially announced.
Burns’ process involves gathering salary data from USA Today Sports and cross-referencing it with figures obtained through a FOIA request to the University of Minnesota. This annual review helps gauge how the Gophers’ spending compares to their Big Ten rivals.
In 2024, Minnesota spent $4.599 million on its ten assistant coaches—less than in 2023—ranking last among the 15 Big Ten schools that report salary data. They trailed Iowa by $3.03 million and Wisconsin by $776,000. With schools like USC, Penn State, and Northwestern not required to disclose their figures, it’s likely that Minnesota and Northwestern were at the bottom.
PJ Fleck’s 2024 salary of $6.7 million placed him ninth among 18 Big Ten coaches and 26th nationally. However, with Indiana’s Curt Cignetti earning close to $8 million in 2025 and Illinois’ Bret Bielema getting a pay bump, Fleck will slide further down the rankings.
Minnesota recently received nearly $1 million in buyout money for departing assistants:
- Corey Hetherman (Miami, Fla.) – $600,000
- Winston DeLattiboudere (Arizona Cardinals) – $300,000
- Nic McKissic-Luke (New York Jets) – $62,500
Total: $962,500
Before these departures, the 2025 assistant salary pool was set to hit a record-high $5.505 million—an increase of nearly $1 million from the previous year. With the changes, the new total will be approximately $5.019 million, a $485,450 reduction from January. Factoring in buyouts, the department effectively saved $1.447 million.
Burns notes that Fleck prefers promoting from within, as seen with past hires like Joe Rossi, Danny Collins, and Greg Harbaugh. While this approach maintains continuity, it also highlights the Gophers’ “Moneyball” strategy. Despite the football program generating record revenue of over $90 million in 2024 with a $43.32 million profit margin, assistant salaries remain among the lowest in the Big Ten.
Notably, all three coordinators who have left in recent years—Kirk Ciarrocca, Joe Rossi, and Corey Hetherman—now earn more individually than both current Gopher coordinators combined. Offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh, for instance, will make $775,000 in 2025—likely the lowest or second-lowest among Big Ten offensive coordinators. Yet, Minnesota’s offense still finished eighth in Big Ten scoring last season.
The question remains: Will the athletic department invest more in coaching salaries, or will Fleck be forced to continue operating on a budget? As the cost of success in college football rises, both Fleck and the administration must decide whether they’re willing to spend what it takes to compete.