Eagan High School hired Ben Hanson as head coach of its varsity football team next season, filling a void that tentatively had been filled by former Gopher Rickey Foggie until he withdrew his name last month.

Hanson, a former assistant coach at St. Thomas Academy, was introduced to the team Tuesday, according to a congratulatory tweet posted on the Eagan Wildcats Athletics Twitter account.

The position became open after Rick Sutton resigned after leading the program for 10 seasons. Foggie, a University of Minnesota quarterback in the mid-1980s, was hired May 13 to fill it.

Foggie said he was asked to resign 10 days later after a group of Eagan supporters compiled a case against him surrounding a follow and like of a Twitter account linked to a pornographic website.

Foggie vowed to keep fighting for the job and met with the Independent School District 196 Superintendent's office last week. He said he was notified Tuesday he was no longer a candidate.

Efforts to reach the district late Tuesday were not immediately successful.

Foggie said he was frustrated and disappointed in the outcome.

"I made a mistake and owned up to it, and to have a group of parents go out and try to ruin my reputation because I wasn't the guy they preferred just isn't right,'' he said. "I will rebound and keep giving back to the community like I have for been doing for the last 30 years."

STAFF REPORTS