Todd Hoffner

[Oxbow6]

I'm glad for Hoffner, but really disappointed he jumped ship on Minot State. They offered him a chance when most would not have and they end up suffering for it.

I get what you are saying but thus situation is different than any other in coaching I've seen. Hoffner is doing what any of us would do...taking back what is rightfully his with a chance at redemption.

[redarmy]

MSU-Mankato president and AD should be gone!

[Bison Dan]

How bad is Minot State (Minot and the university as a whole) that he'd want to go back to Mankato with what they put him through? He better win or he'll get fired again.

[mksioux]

This brings up a pretty interesting question with regard to Keen's contract. Can he simply be re-assigned to a coordinator, or does his contract require that he be head coach?

EDIT: Some are saying Keen was still considered an interim coach in 2013. Not sure I've ever heard of somebody being an interim coach for two full seasons before.

I think Mankato had to keep the "acting" or "interim" label on him until Hoffner's MNSCU appeal process was concluded.

[mksioux]

Rick Hedberg said today that he hopes to have a replacement named within 10-14 days. I guess Minot State's internal policies must be a bit less restrictive than UND's.

Right. People kept on bringing up state law in why it was taking UND so long, but I could find nothing in state law that would mandate such a lengthy process. The only thing state law had to do with it was the open records stuff. As far as I could tell, the rest of the convoluted process was all UND internal policies.

[UND92,96]

Right. People kept on bringing up state law in why it was taking UND so long, but I could find nothing in state law that would mandate such a lengthy process. The only thing state law had to do with it was the open records stuff. As far as I could tell, the rest of the convoluted process was all UND internal policies.

Not to beat a dead horse too much, but my feeling from the start was that Kelley probably had the authority to just exempt the job from most of the UND-specific procedures, and the process from start to finish could have been done in about three weeks.

[BigGame]

I get what you are saying but thus situation is different than any other in coaching I've seen. Hoffner is doing what any of us would do...taking back what is rightfully his with a chance at redemption.

The problem for me is that Minot State is a really tough place to have success and at Minnesota State it will be a lot easier. I think it's more about this then it is any type of redemption. The way he did it shows a real lack of tack as well. Shoot the AD an I quit email 15 minutes before a press conference announcing your intentions. He better not lose his job again because I think what he did he may and should come back to bite him.

I am certainly glad UND didn't hire him to coach in any capacity.

[werewolfoflondon]

The administration was right to let him go at the time. For those of you that think that was over kill a question. If a teacher or principle of your child's school was charged with suspected child porn on their computer would you not want them fired? At the time it was the right thing to do.

[BigGame]

The administration was right to let him go at the time. For those of you that think that was over kill a question. If a teacher or principle of your child's school was charged with suspected child porn on their computer would you not want them fired? At the time it was the right thing to do.

You put him on leave and do a real investigation. He should have been cleared at that point but people were not very smart about it.

[UND92,96]

I was very surprised to hear that the difference in pay between the Mankato and Minot jobs is only something like $13k. I would have assumed it was significantly more than that.

Anybody think Hedberg might give Mussman a call?

[Herd]

How bad is Minot State (Minot and the university as a whole) that he'd want to go back to Mankato with what they put him through? He better win or he'll get fired again.

Hoffner's wife and family are in Mankato where she was still working. I think the situation speaks more to that than wanting out of Minot State. His attorney's have been telling Hoffner and family that, you'll have your old job back if you want it. I'm sure that Hoffner did not want anything negative to happen at Minot State, but that's how it worked out. This decision does not speak to anything Minot State, other than it is a step down job vs. Mankato, not a step up job.

[UND Fan]

Rick Hedberg said today that he hopes to have a replacement named within 10-14 days. I guess Minot State's internal policies must be a bit less restrictive than UND's.

As Hoffner was just hired in January, I would guess they are able to reopen the search and jump through a few less hoops than they (or we) had to do the first time around.

[Siouxperfan7]

And the drama continues!!

http://www.myfoxtwin...s-keen-as-coach

[UND Fan]

And the drama continues!!

http://www.myfoxtwin...s-keen-as-coach

Wow!

[andtheHomeoftheSIOUX!!]

Wow what a soap opera this has turned into.

[CMSioux]

After all this guy has been through these players are out of line - obviously there is loyalty to the coach they've had for the last two years but guess what life wasn't fair to Todd either. If they don't want to play for him then those scholarships will be put to good use in the future - it was going to be turmoil regardless - just seems so unfair after what he and his wife have gone through.

[ScottM]

And the drama continues!!

http://www.myfoxtwin...s-keen-as-coach

I'm sure there are plenty of other players who would be happy to take their rides.

[werewolfoflondon]

You put him on leave and do a real investigation. He should have been cleared at that point but people were not very smart about it.

Oh oh. Just saw that they fired him AFTER the charges were dropped. Did you know that? I didn't. That makes a huge difference. Heck at that point there was no need to put him on leave or have an investigation.

[werewolfoflondon]

After all this guy has been through these players are out of line - obviously there is loyalty to the coach they've had for the last two years but guess what life wasn't fair to Todd either. If they don't want to play for him then those scholarships will be put to good use in the future - it was going to be turmoil regardless - just seems so unfair after what he and his wife have gone through.

Unfair but common these days. There always is a very quick rush to judgement when it comes to this type of allegation. Hence why it is the favorite tactic of wifes in divorce cases. Allegations of abuse have ruined many an innocent man's life.

"Teachers and parents are at risk of being falsely accused of improper conduct with children, in part because of the way other adults handle interviews with the kids. Most people of reasonable intelligence accused of this type of crime “are scared to death,” says Scott Brown, one of several Texas lawyers who in 2007 defended former Fort Worth, Texas, first-grade teacher Jose David Soliz on charges that he had molested several of his female students.

“They think, ‘Every time I read about a case like this in the paper I assumed it was true.’ But now it’s not true anymore.”

Soliz was eventually acquitted. But often, in cases involving sex abuse of children, the concept of “innocent until proven guilty can go out the window,” Brown, like Lorandos, believes". http://www.salon.com..._child_abusers/

Does anyone here remember the Scott County, MN and Kathleen Morris child abuse scandal? http://www.a-team.org/scott_county.html

Many lives were ruined because of her. Can't remember but I think she might have been disbarred in the end.

[NewUNDAlum]

I agree that Hoffner got screwed over before anyone else did. I don't think anyone in their right mind would disagree. However, how many people did Hoffner screw over by retaking the Mankato job? He took a job at Minot State, recruited and started practice with his new players and then up and left. Made promises to his new players and administration and then left without a word. I have friends that play at Minot State and he didn't even address the team. He left without saying a word to any of them. A school gives you a chance at redemption and you leave them via email? That is garbage. As far as his Mankato players not wanting to play for him, I have no issue with that. They developed a relationship with their new coach and that's who they want to play for. They didn't ask for Hoffner to get fired before but they had to adjust and they did. Hoffner didn't recruit the freshman and sophomores at Mankato but now they are required to play for someone that they have never even met? How is that fair to them?

In summary, yes, Hoffner got shafted as much as anyone that you will ever see. That does not justify his actions over the past week. I find it ironic that the school handled the entire situation so poorly and its followed up by Hoffner himself handling a different situation poorly. If Hoffner still ends up leaving Mankato because the players don't want him there then what? I don't think Minot State would take him back because they are pissed. In my opinion, Hoffner made himself radioactive after this past week so he better hope it works out at Mankato.

Just my two cents.

[BigGame]

I agree that Hoffner got screwed over before anyone else did. I don't think anyone in their right mind would disagree. However, how many people did Hoffner screw over by retaking the Mankato job? He took a job at Minot State, recruited and started practice with his new players and then up and left. Made promises to his new players and administration and then left without a word. I have friends that play at Minot State and he didn't even address the team. He left without saying a word to any of them. A school gives you a chance at redemption and you leave them via email? That is garbage. As far as his Mankato players not wanting to play for him, I have no issue with that. They developed a relationship with their new coach and that's who they want to play for. They didn't ask for Hoffner to get fired before but they had to adjust and they did. Hoffner didn't recruit the freshman and sophomores at Mankato but now they are required to play for someone that they have never even met? How is that fair to them?

In summary, yes, Hoffner got shafted as much as anyone that you will ever see. That does not justify his actions over the past week. I find it ironic that the school handled the entire situation so poorly and its followed up by Hoffner himself handling a different situation poorly. If Hoffner still ends up leaving Mankato because the players don't want him there then what? I don't think Minot State would take him back because they are pissed. In my opinion, Hoffner made himself radioactive after this past week so he better hope it works out at Mankato.

Just my two cents.

I completely agree

[werewolfoflondon]

I agree that Hoffner got screwed over before anyone else did. I don't think anyone in their right mind would disagree. However, how many people did Hoffner screw over by retaking the Mankato job? He took a job at Minot State, recruited and started practice with his new players and then up and left. Made promises to his new players and administration and then left without a word. I have friends that play at Minot State and he didn't even address the team. He left without saying a word to any of them. A school gives you a chance at redemption and you leave them via email? That is garbage. As far as his Mankato players not wanting to play for him, I have no issue with that. They developed a relationship with their new coach and that's who they want to play for. They didn't ask for Hoffner to get fired before but they had to adjust and they did. Hoffner didn't recruit the freshman and sophomores at Mankato but now they are required to play for someone that they have never even met? How is that fair to them?

In summary, yes, Hoffner got shafted as much as anyone that you will ever see. That does not justify his actions over the past week. I find it ironic that the school handled the entire situation so poorly and its followed up by Hoffner himself handling a different situation poorly. If Hoffner still ends up leaving Mankato because the players don't want him there then what? I don't think Minot State would take him back because they are pissed. In my opinion, Hoffner made himself radioactive after this past week so he better hope it works out at Mankato.

Just my two cents.

Or is it a nice plan for a real big payday?

[CMSioux]

I agree that Hoffner got screwed over before anyone else did. I don't think anyone in their right mind would disagree. However, how many people did Hoffner screw over by retaking the Mankato job? He took a job at Minot State, recruited and started practice with his new players and then up and left. Made promises to his new players and administration and then left without a word. I have friends that play at Minot State and he didn't even address the team. He left without saying a word to any of them. A school gives you a chance at redemption and you leave them via email? That is garbage. As far as his Mankato players not wanting to play for him, I have no issue with that. They developed a relationship with their new coach and that's who they want to play for. They didn't ask for Hoffner to get fired before but they had to adjust and they did. Hoffner didn't recruit the freshman and sophomores at Mankato but now they are required to play for someone that they have never even met? How is that fair to them?

In summary, yes, Hoffner got shafted as much as anyone that you will ever see. That does not justify his actions over the past week. I find it ironic that the school handled the entire situation so poorly and its followed up by Hoffner himself handling a different situation poorly. If Hoffner still ends up leaving Mankato because the players don't want him there then what? I don't think Minot State would take him back because they are pissed. In my opinion, Hoffner made himself radioactive after this past week so he better hope it works out at Mankato.

Just my two cents.

Good discussion - I agree more with what his attorney said in the press conference "If anyone has the right to be selfish in this situation it is Todd he did nothing wrong and his life was turned upside down," The players should be blaming the school adminsitration and if they are truly upset then why would you want to stay at a school with an administration that they don't respect - transfer now. According to the press conference Todd's wife and children were still living in Mankato well established in the community and their schools they did nothing wrong. They players obviously don't understand the whole sitatuion - the reality is he has a right to his job and has chosen to stay so their choice is to accept it or leave. Coaches come and go anyway - those sophomores and freshmen were never guaranteed that the interim coach would have been there all four years anyway. It was the Mankata State University's administration and coaching staff's responsibilty to make sure the players understood that this could have happened - if some of them aren't sent packing that is the real injustice here.

[mksioux]

The administration was right to let him go at the time. For those of you that think that was over kill a question. If a teacher or principle of your child's school was charged with suspected child porn on their computer would you not want them fired? At the time it was the right thing to do.

He was fired after he was cleared of the charges.

[mksioux]

I agree that Hoffner got screwed over before anyone else did. I don't think anyone in their right mind would disagree. However, how many people did Hoffner screw over by retaking the Mankato job? He took a job at Minot State, recruited and started practice with his new players and then up and left. Made promises to his new players and administration and then left without a word. I have friends that play at Minot State and he didn't even address the team. He left without saying a word to any of them. A school gives you a chance at redemption and you leave them via email? That is garbage. As far as his Mankato players not wanting to play for him, I have no issue with that. They developed a relationship with their new coach and that's who they want to play for. They didn't ask for Hoffner to get fired before but they had to adjust and they did. Hoffner didn't recruit the freshman and sophomores at Mankato but now they are required to play for someone that they have never even met? How is that fair to them?

In summary, yes, Hoffner got shafted as much as anyone that you will ever see. That does not justify his actions over the past week. I find it ironic that the school handled the entire situation so poorly and its followed up by Hoffner himself handling a different situation poorly. If Hoffner still ends up leaving Mankato because the players don't want him there then what? I don't think Minot State would take him back because they are pissed. In my opinion, Hoffner made himself radioactive after this past week so he better hope it works out at Mankato.

Just my two cents.

This is a really tough situation and I'm not sure there are any right answers. I was very surprised when he made the decision to go back to Mankato. I thought he'd take the compensation to make up the salary difference and stay coaching at the place that gave him a chance when nobody else would. And perhaps he could have handled his departure at Minot differently. However, it's safe to say I don't know what it's like to have gone through what Todd Hoffner had to go through. I can't even imagine it. So for that reason, I can't blame him for the decision he made. I think he had the right to do what he felt was in the best interest of his family. And regardless of whether it was the "right" decision (if there is such a thing in this situation), these Mankato players are acting disgraceful.