It looks like new Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck has settled on his defensive coordinator.
A source tells ESPN that Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith will take over the same position at Minnesota. The University of Minnesota hasn’t made an official announcement, but Fleck is hoping to complete his staff by Thursday.
Smith has served as the Razorbacks’ defensive coordinator since 2014. According to Gridiron Now, Arkansas finished 75th nationally in total defense (426.6 yards per game) and 85th in scoring defense (31.1 points per game).
It wouldn’t seem that Smith was the most popular coach on the Razorbacks’ staff.
BREAKING: MINNESOTA HAS HIRED ROBB SMITH AS THERE NEW DC! HA! BETTER DAYS ARE AHEAD ARKANSAS. BELIEVE ME. #MAKEARKANSASGREATAGAIN
— Fire Robb Smith (@FireRobbSmith16) January 9, 2017
But Fleck and Smith do have history together. They worked together previously at Rutgers, where Smith was the defensive coordinator and in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2010-2012.
The blog Arkansas Fight reports that last week it was believed Smith was leaving Arkansas to become the defensive coordinator at Wake Forest, but has chosen Fleck and Minnesota instead.
