PJ Fleck Promotes Another Recent Player to Prominent Role on Gophers Coaching Staff
Despite a season filled with positive momentum for the Minnesota Gophers, head coach P.J. Fleck faced an unexpected challenge this offseason. Once again, he lost his defensive coordinator to a lateral move, throwing the coaching staff into flux.
Thankfully it didn’t take long for the Minnesota Gophers head coach to find a replacement. It also means more opportunity for internal development.
Minnesota Gophers relying on a familiar face
Just a couple of years ago Mariano Sori-Marin was starring on the Minnesota Gophers defense for P.J. Fleck. Now he is going to try to help it thrive from the sidelines.
Minnesota is set to promote nickel/assistant LB coach Mariano Sori-Marin to the vacant linebacker coaching position, multiple sources confirmed to @Minnesota247.
— Ryan Burns (@RyanBurnsMN) January 13, 2025
The 25-year-old played in 58 games as a Gopher for PJ Fleck from 2018-2022.https://t.co/hc05ZHuwjb pic.twitter.com/ZLpUOZ2WyX
Currently employed as the assistant linebackers coach, Sori-Marin now takes over as the man in charge of the linebackers. With 58 games at the position, it’s a spot he knows well. In his time with the Gophers, Sori-Marin turned in 274 tackles, 15 for losses, and 1.5 sacks.
At just 25 years old, Sori-Marin now holds a prominent coaching position at a major university. He has jumpstarted his coaching career in a big way, and can be part of the blueprint for a Gophers defense looking to make noise in the ever-expanding Big Ten.
Related: Minnesota Gophers Hire New Defensive Coordinator
Fleck has seen multiple assistants leave for others schools. If Minnesota continues to stifle salaries for those roles, that will continue. The ability to identify and develop young talent internally can help to curb that situation, however.
Sori-Marin will be working under his third defensive coordinator at Minnesota. Initially operating under Joe Rossi, and then Corey Heatherman last season, the gig is now going to be held by Danny Collins.
Related: Gophers Land OSU Linebacker Out of Transfer Portal
In his final season playing for the Gophers, Sori-Marin was named All-Big Ten. Fleck is certainly hoping he can impart some of that wisdom on a linebacker corps that is integrating a transfer and looking to replace star LB Cody Lindenberg.
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