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Source: Jay Sawvel won't return to Gophers; he's weighing other opportunities

Former Gophers defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel met with new coach P.J. Fleck on Saturday but both appear to have moved in different directions.

January 10, 2017 at 7:45PM
Jay Sawvel
Jay Sawvel (Brian Wicker — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Former Gophers defensive coach Jay Sawvel will not be returning to the team's coaching staff and is currently weighing three opportunities -- one in the Big Ten, two in the ACC -- a source familiar with his situation said Tuesday.

Sawvel met with new Gophers coach P.J. Fleck on Saturday, and they talked about meeting again Monday, but it appears both have moved in different directions. ESPN reported that Fleck will hire Robb Smith from Arkansas to be Minnesota's new defensive coordinator, though Gophers sources have yet to confirm this.

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about the writer

about the writer

Joe Christensen

Sports team leader

Joe Christensen, a Minnesota Star Tribune sports team leader, graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005 and spent four years covering Gophers football.

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