Gophers Hire Decorated Coach Bob Ligashesky as Special Teams Coordinator

The Minnesota Gophers have hired Bob Ligashesky as their new special teams coordinator, after Rob Wenger resigned from the post earlier this week. They are still searching for a new defensive coordinator and tight ends coach.

Minnesota Gophers hire Bob Ligashesky as Special Teams Coordinator

Most recently with Syracuse, Ligashesky brings 38 years of coaching experience from just about every level of the college and NFL ranks, including a Super Bowl title as Pittsburgh Steelers Special Teams coordinator in 2008. Almost all of his coaching experience has revolved around special teams, tight ends and linebackers.

Source: Minnesota is set to hire Syracuse’s Bob Ligashesky as the school’s new special teams coordinator. He’s a veteran coach who has coached special teams for six different NFL teams. He’s also coached at Bowling Green, Illinois and Pitt in college.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 5, 2024

Ligashesky’s coaching history

Ligashesky started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wake Forest in 1985. His first paid coaching job was Special Teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Kent State in 1989-90 before moving onto Bowling Green, where he spent most of the 90’s.

In 2000, he moved onto the NFL where he got his start with the Steelers as their Special Teams coordinator and tight ends coach (200-2003). He moved onto Jacksonville after that, followed by St. Louis, Pittsburgh (again), Denver, Oakland, Tampa Bay and Houston.

Related: 4 Minnesota Gophers Defensive Coordinator Candidates to Replace Joe Rossi

In 2016 he made his move back to the college ranks with Big Ten foe, Illinois. He was there until 2020, before he went back to Bowling Green (2021) and eventually Syracuse the past two seasons.

Below are the big games Bob Ligashesky has coached in, according to his bio at Syracuse:

• 1987 Rose Bowl
• 1987 Freedom Bowl
• 1991 California Raisin Bowl
• 1992 Las Vegas Bowl
• 2000 Insight.com Bowl
• 2001 Tangerine Bowl
• 2002 Insight Bowl
• 2003 Continental Tire Bowl
• 2007 NFL Wildcard Round
• 2008 Super Bowl
• 2015 NFL Wildcard Round
• 2019 Redbox Bowl
• 2022 Pinstripe Bowl