BleedGopher
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Per Marcus:
The Gophers football team's new special teams coordinator, Bob Ligashesky, has a career that speaks for itself.
In 40 years coaching in college and the NFL, Ligashesky has experienced winning at the highest level as a Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's coached All-Pro specialists and the Big Ten's top kicker and punter in past seasons.
It takes a lot to impress Ligashesky. That's how you know his praise is genuine for Gophers kicker Dragan Kesich and punter Mark Crawford.
"Their experience and familiarity are something we'll lean on," Ligashesky said after a recent spring football practice. "They've been in game-winning situations, high-pressure situations. So we'll rely on that experience to lead our group."
Kesich enters his fifth year coming off a season where he became the first Gophers player to earn Big Ten kicker of the year honors since Emmitt Carpenter in 2016.
Kesich's 23 field goals during the 2023 season were tied for second most in program history, and his field goal percentage (85.2%) was the third best team mark since 1977. As exceptional as that performance was under coach P.J. Fleck last year, Ligashesky could be the coach to take Kesich's game even higher.
In 2018, Illinois kicker Chase McLaughlin was the top player at his position in the Big Ten under Ligashesky's direction. McLaughlin went from undrafted prospect to playing for seven different NFL teams, including 17 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
"He brings a different experience and different mindset that's really helping me take my game to the next level," Kesich said of Ligashesky. "He's an awesome dude."
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
The Gophers football team's new special teams coordinator, Bob Ligashesky, has a career that speaks for itself.
In 40 years coaching in college and the NFL, Ligashesky has experienced winning at the highest level as a Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's coached All-Pro specialists and the Big Ten's top kicker and punter in past seasons.
It takes a lot to impress Ligashesky. That's how you know his praise is genuine for Gophers kicker Dragan Kesich and punter Mark Crawford.
"Their experience and familiarity are something we'll lean on," Ligashesky said after a recent spring football practice. "They've been in game-winning situations, high-pressure situations. So we'll rely on that experience to lead our group."
Kesich enters his fifth year coming off a season where he became the first Gophers player to earn Big Ten kicker of the year honors since Emmitt Carpenter in 2016.
Kesich's 23 field goals during the 2023 season were tied for second most in program history, and his field goal percentage (85.2%) was the third best team mark since 1977. As exceptional as that performance was under coach P.J. Fleck last year, Ligashesky could be the coach to take Kesich's game even higher.
In 2018, Illinois kicker Chase McLaughlin was the top player at his position in the Big Ten under Ligashesky's direction. McLaughlin went from undrafted prospect to playing for seven different NFL teams, including 17 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
"He brings a different experience and different mindset that's really helping me take my game to the next level," Kesich said of Ligashesky. "He's an awesome dude."
Gophers' new special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky has experience working with the best
The Gophers football team can't wait to see what kicker Dragan Kesich and punter Mark Crawford will do under new special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!