Fo the time being, Tracy Claeys has found a temporary replacement for his Minnesota coaching staff.
The Gophers confirmed a week ago that linebackers coach Mike Sherels was taken to a local hospital Tuesday for what it described as “unexpected surgery.” Additionally, the school acknowledged that the assistant underwent an unspecified medical procedure the previous week.
In a statement Thursday, Claeys indicated that Sherels continues to recover but is not yet ready to return.
“We want to thank everyone for respecting Mike’s privacy and that of his family,” the coach said. “We ask that you continue to do so as he recovers. Mike is a resilient man who represents the best of college football. He will be in our daily thoughts as we continue to prepare for the season, and we look forward to Mike’s return to the staff when he is ready.”
The 31-year-old Sherels will be entering his third season as an assistant at Minnesota. He also played his college football for the Gophers from 2003-07, serving as a team captain his last two seasons.
In the same release, Claeys revealed that Keith Jordan has been named as acting linebackers coach. Jordan has been working as a special teams quality control coach for the Gophers.
