Minot State football coach back to Mankato????? [Archive]

Hammersmith

04-12-2014, 03:56 AM

Beat me to it. Here's what I posted over on SDSUFans. The first link is a very good telling of the story.

New developments. The arbitrator has handed down his decision. Mankato must immediately reinstate Hoffner if he so chooses. Mankato had no grounds to fire him; the most they should have done was verbally reprimand him for allowing his wife to use his laptop. Every other excuse they used to fire him was bogus, unverifiable, or inconsequential. If Hoffner chooses not to return to Mankato, the university must pay any difference between his current salary and what he would have gotten at Mankato. That goes until 2018. They also have to cut him a check for the 20-day unpaid suspension he received. Hoffner is currently head coach at Minot State(ND-DII). Hoffner has planned a press conference for Tuesday. While he currently lives and works in Minot, his wife and children are still living in Mankato where she works.

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/local/x1445037890/Arbitrator-rules-Hoffner-should-be-rehired
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25541138/arbitrator-mankato-state-coach-wrongfully-terminated-should-be

MinotBison

04-12-2014, 04:25 AM

It will be interesting to see what happens to anyone in the Mankato administration who had anything to do with firing him. I suspect a few heads might roll.

MinotBison

04-16-2014, 01:25 AM

From ESPN:
"Minot State athletic director Rick Hedberg said the school wished Hoffner the best and hoped for closure for him and his family, but "we are disappointed that doesn't involve Minot State."

Hedberg said the school will move forward quickly to find a replacement. He has said there was nothing in Hoffner's contract to block him from leaving, and the university had no contingency plan for that possibility."

tjbison

04-16-2014, 01:40 AM

what a cluster, he was a good thing for Minot. going to be very difficult to lure a quality coach to Minot now

MinotBison

04-16-2014, 03:02 AM

what a cluster, he was a good thing for Minot. going to be very difficult to lure a quality coach to Minot now

The list of applicants when Hoffner was hired were not particularly noteworthy. I can't imagine what it's going to be like now. That program is in for some rough going for awhile.

Tatanka

04-16-2014, 03:58 AM

Mussman is available.

Sent from somewhere using my Windows phone.

MinotBison

04-16-2014, 04:09 AM

Hey, I wonder what Rocky's doing these days.

Hambone

04-16-2014, 11:48 AM

Mussman is available.

Sent from somewhere using my Windows phone.

Kind of - I think he is co-offensive coordinator at St. Cloud.......so while he could technically leave not sure he would. Although I'm sure you were just making a funny :)

Tatanka

04-16-2014, 12:43 PM

Kind of - I think he is co-offensive coordinator at St. Cloud.......so while he could technically leave not sure he would. Although I'm sure you were just making a funny :)

:). I'm sure he'd consider it... That would make two promotions in the same year!

Sent from somewhere using my Windows phone.

StL Bison Fan

04-16-2014, 03:46 PM

Listening to the reporter that covers Minot. Minot learned he was going back to Mankato via e mail at 2:45 yesterday.
The team found out the way and time we did.
This guy sounds like a class act.

The assistants are staying

Hail bison

04-16-2014, 05:57 PM

Hey, I wonder what Rocky's doing these days.

Maybe you are joking but I'd be an instant MS fan if Rocky came back to ND

Bisonville GasMan

04-16-2014, 06:21 PM

It will be interesting to see what happens to anyone in the Mankato administration who had anything to do with firing him. I suspect a few heads might roll.

Heads should roll!!! This family has been torn apart and dragged through the media all unnecessarily. These administrative assholes in Mankato overreacted and almost completely destroyed someones career and lively-hood...glad he's going back to Mankato too...because guess who has the upper hand around the athletic office now.

runtheoption

04-16-2014, 07:12 PM

Heads should roll!!! This family has been torn apart and dragged through the media all unnecessarily. These administrative assholes in Mankato overreacted and almost completely destroyed someones career and lively-hood...glad he's going back to Mankato too...because guess who has the upper hand around the athletic office now.Mankato St. = my new favorite DII team. Is it weird that I want the Mavs to win a football Championship, but want the rest of their Administration that had any input on the decision to fire Hofner to fail miserably to the point they are out of a job? And please let the prosecutor also be subject to a severe MN Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility sanction.

Rocky back to Minot St., to coach his alma mater!!??

Hail bison

04-16-2014, 07:19 PM

Mankato St. = my new favorite DII team. Is it weird that I want the Mavs to win a football Championship, but want the rest of their Administration that had any input on the decision to fire Hofner to fail miserably to the point they are out of a job? And please let the prosecutor also be subject to a severe MN Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility sanction.

Rocky back to Minot St., to coach his alma mater!!??

He's an assistant coach at a D3 school in New Jersey. Maybe he'll come back some day but I've also heard speculation that he wouldn't leave that part of the country with the family out there and his wife's career. But I don't know that for a fact

BYZEN

04-16-2014, 08:26 PM

We could have GABE start a MS Coaching thread and BV could take over the coaching duties via web links .... how cutting edge would that be???:biggrin::rofl::biggrin::rofl::biggrin:

NDSUstudent

04-16-2014, 09:15 PM

Mankato players go on strike....

http://themsureporter.com/breaking-mavericks-will-not-practice-under-todd-hoffner/

Bisonville GasMan

04-16-2014, 09:22 PM

Mankato players go on strike....

http://themsureporter.com/breaking-mavericks-will-not-practice-under-todd-hoffner/

Wow!!! What a mess...

aces1180

04-16-2014, 09:22 PM

Absolutely crazy...

Bison bison

04-16-2014, 09:28 PM

You couldn't make this sh#t up.

LITTLEGUYSINGREEN

04-16-2014, 09:29 PM

Mankato players go on strike....

http://themsureporter.com/breaking-mavericks-will-not-practice-under-todd-hoffner/

Is this for real?

NorthernBison

04-16-2014, 09:30 PM

Uh oh. Now there's trouble in River City. Mankato needs to write a check and leave the amount blank.

MinotBison

04-16-2014, 09:54 PM

Can this whole situation get any stranger? If this 'strike' persists, will they lose their scholarships? Will Mankato even have a team this fall? Wow.

KTF

04-16-2014, 10:45 PM

Just saw this on the news... No surprise at all... I agree that the university needs to write the check but I have a feeling that their hands are tied big time... Will Glen Taylor step up and write the check to buy him out?

BlueBisonRock

04-16-2014, 11:14 PM

As an alternative, I understand that the CC up north is looking for players (although the move would be a downgrade for the players).

Tatanka

04-16-2014, 11:27 PM

As an alternative, I understand that the CC up north is looking for players (although the move would be a downgrade for the players).

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/1148136/agree-o.gif

87Bisonfan

04-17-2014, 01:49 AM

Rumor is that the Minot AD Rick Hedberg offered the Minot State coaching job to the old Mankato St. acting head coach! Wow -- this could get complicated!

StL Bison Fan

04-17-2014, 01:59 AM

Apparently our last year was not as complicated as I thought it was.
These people know how to put on a show.

KTF

04-17-2014, 02:53 AM

NorthernBison

04-17-2014, 12:20 PM

The thing that gets me is that I have friends that are MSUM graduates that are proud of what the football team is doing. I find that the comments are hardcore either way with no one nuetral. I am trying to stay nuetral as I don't know enough about the behind the scenes.

One would think that they should treat this for what it is, their job (scholarship). Would anyone else be able to do what they are doing without consequences in the future? The other approach is to show loyalty to their coach they have learn to trust for the past 1.5 years. That says something as well...
I've seen the same thing. I think it's a pretty simple situation for the players. You don't get to make the decision about who coaches this team. If you want to play, fine. If not, turn in your gear. I really don't know Todd all that well so I have no idea how he will react. I know the vocal ones would be better of quitting if I was the coach because I wouldn't forget and there would be consequences (I'd be like the coach on Varsity Blues but passive-aggressive).

td577

04-17-2014, 01:21 PM

I've seen the same thing. I think it's a pretty simple situation for the players. You don't get to make the decision about who coaches this team. If you want to play, fine. If not, turn in your gear. I really don't know Todd all that well so I have no idea how he will react. I know the vocal ones would be better of quitting if I was the coach because I wouldn't forget and there would be consequences (I'd be like the coach on Varsity Blues but passive-aggressive).

This is the bottom line. The players don't get to decide who is coach. The players that want to play for MSUM need to show up for practice. They had their say, got their message out loud and clear, got to show a display of solidarity, and now it is time to return to the practice field and play for the coach the school puts in front of them. If they don't return today, cut them all. Let history decide who set the program back five years. Hoffner simply needs to come out and state that he didn't create this situation and they are resuming practice today without those who want to continue this strike. Those that want to continue this strike are immediately off the team and if they don't come in to turn in their equipment, their account will be billed. Then start turning over every rock possible to put a team out there this fall.

Hammersmith

04-17-2014, 01:24 PM

This is the bottom line. The players don't get to decide who is coach. The players that want to play for MSUM need to show up for practice. They had their say, got their message out loud and clear, got to show a display of solidarity, and now it is time to return to the practice field and play for the coach the school puts in front of them. If they don't return today, cut them all. Let history decide who set the program back five years. Hoffner simply needs to come out and state that he didn't create this situation and they are resuming practice today without those who want to continue this strike. Those that want to continue this strike are immediately off the team and if they don't come in to turn in their equipment, their account will be billed. Then start turning over every rock possible to put a team out there this fall.

Basically this, but I'd give them till Tuesday. Let them have the long weekend to get it out of their system. (I'm assuming they weren't scheduled to practice over Easter break.)

Bison bison

04-17-2014, 01:36 PM

The interim coach needs to address the team hopefully, with a sh#tload more tact than Hoffner did with Minot State.

I'm shocked by how hard Hoffner was on the Beavers.

Bison"FANatic"

04-17-2014, 01:36 PM

So this AM I am listening to 98.7 FM on the way to work and this story comes up. They start talking about it and got just about everything wrong. They had him recording porn on his computer and looking at it with other people and then some wrong stuff about children. No fault of the radio personalities as they just see it come across the computer and read a story here and there and then talk about something that they know little to nothing about. The unfortunate thing is how this will follow the coach for the rest of his life and the damage it has done to him. There will always be questions. When his contract is up if he doesn't get renewed it will be brought up. If he is renewed will it be discussed how much of a raise he got and if the "childporn" allegations had a influence in it if it would of or should of been more. It is always going to be a cloud around him at Mankato. Mankato and him need to sit down and hash out a "separation" agreement and he needs to move on for the good of his career and do the best to put it behind him. He should be paid handsomely for having to move on and give up living and working where he wants.

As for the players they need to get back onto the field. They play for the school not the coach and they don't get to decide who is the coach unless the AD asks for their input. Suck it up buttercups and welcome to the real world. It is just a cluster all the way around and its best they keep out of it.

NorthernBison

04-17-2014, 01:52 PM

So far, the only people who have "skated" on this are the incompetent administrators at Mankato. Those idiots fired him AFTER the charges were dismissed. IMO, whoever owns that decision really needs to be cut loose. If it's the President, so be it.

NorthernBison

04-17-2014, 02:22 PM

FYI, Keen was out of work when Omaha dropped their football program. Todd hired him at Mankato. I would think he would show some loyalty to the guy who gave him a job.

NDSU_grad

04-17-2014, 02:35 PM

FYI, Keen was out of work when Omaha dropped their football program. Todd hired him at Mankato. I would think he would show some loyalty to the guy who gave him a job.

LOL. You mean like how Hedberg gave Hoffner a chance?

NorthernBison

04-17-2014, 02:45 PM

LOL. You mean like how Hedberg gave Hoffner a chance?
Valid point. I notice that he didn't put anything in the contract to keep Todd from leaving. I just think Todd has every right to be selfish. The Mankato job was his job and he never should have lost it. I don't blame him for accepting it when it is offered back. It pays more and his family never left there. The players with their panties all in a knot can dry their tears and either quit the team or nut up and play. Keen can take another job (Minot) if he wants or stick around Mankato and be an assistant (I wouldn't keep him if I was Todd but that's another subject). Mankato is a decent DII program to play for and I'm sure there are kids out there who will use any scholarships that open up. I wouldn't release any players either. You quit, you sit.

NDSU_grad

04-17-2014, 02:54 PM

Valid point. I notice that he didn't put anything in the contract to keep Todd from leaving. I just think Todd has every right to be selfish. The Mankato job was his job and he never should have lost it. I don't blame him for accepting it when it is offered back. It pays more and his family never left there. The players with their panties all in a knot can dry their tears and either quit the team or nut up and play. Keen can take another job (Minot) if he wants or stick around Mankato and be an assistant (I wouldn't keep him if I was Todd but that's another subject). Mankato is a decent DII program to play for and I'm sure there are kids out there who will use any scholarships that open up. I wouldn't release any players either. You quit, you sit.

First of all I can't imagine the hell the Hoffner family has been through over the last 18 months or so. That said I disagree that circumstance gives him a right to be selfish and vindictive. If anything it should make him more empathetic to the situation at Minot State. There's really only losers in this situation. Hoffner, Keen, the players at Mankato and Minot. What I don't get is that Hoffner knew there would be a chance the arbitration case would go in his favor, yet he told Minot State that chapter in his life was over and he was ready to start over at Minot. That was a dick move on his part, imo.

KTF

04-17-2014, 03:10 PM

What do the NCAA rules say about a scenario like this?

I feel bad for the Minot State program as they truly got the short end of the deal...

runtheoption

04-17-2014, 03:31 PM

I wonder how the 7am meeting this morning with Hoffner, Keen, the players, and the AD went? I suspect everything will be fine after that meeting. Or at least my naïve faith in the human spirit leads me to believe everything will be fine.

Hail bison

04-17-2014, 03:33 PM

First of all I can't imagine the hell the Hoffner family has been through over the last 18 months or so. That said I disagree that circumstance gives him a right to be selfish and vindictive. If anything it should make him more empathetic to the situation at Minot State. There's really only losers in this situation. Hoffner, Keen, the players at Mankato and Minot. What I don't get is that Hoffner knew there would be a chance the arbitration case would go in his favor, yet he told Minot State that chapter in his life was over and he was ready to start over at Minot. That was a dick move on his part, imo.

Agree about the dick move but I heard Heitkamp say this morning that Hoffner's wife didn't want to live in North Dakota. I'm sure that's just what the talk is (typical gap tooth). But if that's true, I can see how Hoffner would be in a hell of a spot. He didn't do anything wrong but I'm sure he feels responsible for what his family has been through to some extent. I'm just looking at it as a husband and father. I'd do anything to keep my wife and kids happy. Hell, he might be worried about his marriage for all we know

NDSU_grad

04-17-2014, 03:51 PM

Agree about the dick move but I heard Heitkamp say this morning that Hoffner's wife didn't want to live in North Dakota. I'm sure that's just what the talk is (typical gap tooth). But if that's true, I can see how Hoffner would be in a hell of a spot. He didn't do anything wrong but I'm sure he feels responsible for what his family has been through to some extent. I'm just looking at it as a husband and father. I'd do anything to keep my wife and kids happy. Hell, he might be worried about his marriage for all we know

I wouldn't doubt if that's true. But that should have been considered before he took the job at Minot then.

Bison bison

04-17-2014, 03:51 PM

Agree about the dick move but I heard Heitkamp say this morning that Hoffner's wife didn't want to live in North Dakota. I'm sure that's just what the talk is (typical gap tooth). But if that's true, I can see how Hoffner would be in a hell of a spot. He didn't do anything wrong but I'm sure he feels responsible for what his family has been through to some extent. I'm just looking at it as a husband and father. I'd do anything to keep my wife and kids happy. Hell, he might be worried about his marriage for all we know

Why? he only used his employers phone to tape a few videos of his 9, 8, and 5 year old children dancing naked.

NorthernBison

04-17-2014, 04:01 PM

I think Todd could be persuaded to walk away. I would if I was him but the check would be for a very large number. Enough so I wouldn't need to work for quite a while.

KTF

04-17-2014, 04:18 PM

A quick update per the Mankato Free Press Twitter activity- Jim Rueda@jimrueda

"Anticipating press conference later this morning or this afternoon at MSU. MSU football players are expected to say they'll play for Hoffner"

Also sounds like the meeting this am was roughly 2 hours long. Guess the administration is talking at the current moment about the situation.

Hammersmith

04-17-2014, 04:28 PM

Why? he only used his employers phone to tape a few videos of his 9, 8, and 5 year old children dancing naked.

Which wasn't against Mankato State policy. Seriously. The only policy was no illegal activity using the phone. Once the criminal judge declared the videos legal, Mankato didn't have a leg to stand on.

This only happened the way it did because the Sandusky case was still fresh in the news(thanks for that Penn St). Because, you know, hysteria, witch hunts, and rushing to judgement are always such wonderful things.

Hail bison

04-17-2014, 04:49 PM

I wouldn't doubt if that's true. But that should have been considered before he took the job at Minot then.

This is true

1998braves64

04-17-2014, 05:18 PM

Maybe he screwed up in telling Minot State that he was committed but if he didn't would they have hired him then? If he is in dire financial straits he looked at it as a must get job to pay bills. If you didn't give your full loyalty to them they might not offer the job he badly needed. Now if Mankato is paying more money to someone who has huge bills piling up, who wouldn't take the higher paying job, I know I would in a heartbeat. The beat writer that Barriero had on last night from Mankato stated he feels Hoffner grossly underestimated the pushback (not even considering the players putting up a stand he said even before that was the feeling he had about the situation) from athletics department and maybe even people around town not getting behind him 100% on this due to the cluster that this story has become.

This story got messed up when they "promoted" him to whatever admin job it was and then fired him after all charges were dropped. Wonder if admin felt like they would be "sweeping" a problem under the rug type situation if they let him stick around or what? Couldn't they put his phone/computer whatever they felt etc on probation and require him to have it searched by university occasionally just to keep university at ease? Guess it would seem a bit unfair to Hoffner but wasn't like he got treated fairly either. Really don't know seems they could have handled the situation much better than what they did.

StL Bison Fan

04-17-2014, 05:30 PM

He e mailed Minot at 2:45 to tell them the news. He should have manned up and told them in person or at least on the phone before the press conference.
He should have told the Minot team before the press conference. We know what happens when they find out second hand.
And he should have told the Mankato team beforehand too.
Would that have made it better? No. But he would have at least looked like he was trying.
Don't blame the guy at all for going back. The President and AD need human resources training. Somewhere else.
This too shall pass.

Bison bison

04-17-2014, 05:57 PM

Which wasn't against Mankato State policy. Seriously.

I find that surprising as the phone was state property.

TransAmBison

04-17-2014, 06:26 PM

I find that surprising as the phone was state property.Huh. I'd be curious to see your web history on your work computer. Maybe it is 100% work related material. Or maybe you are human.

CAS4127

04-17-2014, 06:36 PM

Huh. I'd be curious to see your web history on your work computer. Maybe it is 100% work related material. Or maybe you are human.

Yet to be verified!!

Bison bison

04-17-2014, 06:36 PM

Depends on the employers policy. Mine allows personal use of IT as long as it doesn't interfere with productivity.

Mankota's general policy is that cell phones can't be used for personal reasons.

TransAmBison

04-17-2014, 06:39 PM

CAS4127

04-17-2014, 06:49 PM

Depends on the employers policy. Mine allows personal use of IT as long as it doesn't interfere with productivity.

Mankota's general policy is that cell phones can't be used for personal reasons.

I'm bettin' Tranny's "employer's" policy either doesn't have that provision or, if it does, it's clearly not enforced. That's my bet!!

Bison bison

04-17-2014, 06:59 PM

So your work policy is subjective...Mankato's is unrealistic.

Their policy for computer use is almost the same as ours.

It's the cell phone policy that is different. I'm assuming Hoffner had an agreement with the University to use the phone for personal use.

Hammersmith

04-17-2014, 07:34 PM

Depends on the employers policy. Mine allows personal use of IT as long as it doesn't interfere with productivity.

Mankota's general policy is that cell phones can't be used for personal reasons.
Not according to what the arbitrator wrote in his judgment. He specifically said there were no rules against what Hoffner used his cellphone for. It was in the Mankato Free Press story. The only thing Hoffner did that was against the rules was allowing his wife to use a couple MSU laptops for a project at her school. Even that was only worth a verbal reprimand as Hoffner's record was completely clean to this point.

MinotBison

04-18-2014, 02:48 AM

So now apparently, Hoffner will remain the head coach and Keen will still be on the staff. That should be interesting.

From the Mankato Free Press:
"Hoffner and Keen have met privately, and Hoffner has also met with the entire staff. Athletic director Kevin Buisman said that he and President Richard Davenport met with Keen on Wednesday to discuss options, one of which would be to offer an extension once Keen's current contract runs out June 30."

"When the players refused to practice Wednesday, publicly showing support for Keen, there was concern among the players that Keen would be out of a job. That fear was eased in a two-hour meeting with both coaches, Buisman and some of the players."

Bison bison

04-18-2014, 01:30 PM

Not according to what the arbitrator wrote in his judgment.

Mankato's policy is no personal use of cellphones. He likely had a special agreement - as the idea of carrying two cellphones is 'So 2002'.

missingnumber7

04-18-2014, 03:59 PM

What do the NCAA rules say about a scenario like this?

I feel bad for the Minot State program as they truly got the short end of the deal...

Nothing. A coach jumping ship has no punishment, neither does the school he jumps ship for and the school that he leaves has no recourse, unless it is in the original contract. The NCAA only cares about the Student Athletes, and the contact the coaches have with them in recruiting and in season time.

onbison09

04-18-2014, 04:20 PM

Nothing. A coach jumping ship has no punishment, neither does the school he jumps ship for and the school that he leaves has no recourse, unless it is in the original contract. The NCAA only cares about the Student Athletes, and the contact the coaches have with them in recruiting and in season time.
I wouldn't use that word.