The Gophers announced today that they've promoted longtime director of football operations, Dan O'Brien, to Senior Associate Athletics Director overseeing the football program and facilities.

O'Brien, who has been with the athletics department since 2008 and worked closely with head football coach Jerry Kill for the past three years, moves into the role vacated by David Benedict, who has moved on to become chief operating officer at Auburn.

"We are extremely excited for Dan to take on his expanded role within the Athletics Department," Gophers AD Norwood Teague said in the press release. "His work with the Gopher football program speaks for itself, and his more than ten years of experience as Director of Athletics at both Hamline and Concordia Universities will be a welcome addition to our current staff."

To fill O'Brien's role as director of football operations, Kill promoted Adam Clark, the Gophers director of player personnel.