A #B1G Happy Valley welcome to new offensive line Coach Limegrover! #WeAre https://t.co/OGmsWatX0H pic.twitter.com/0j7Ew1mtbQ
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) January 13, 2016
Former Gophers offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover has found a new job, and he’ll even be staying in the Big Ten.
According to an announcement from Penn State, Limegrover is headed to Happy Valley to become the offensive line coach of the Nittany Lions.
Limegrover was fired from Minnesota after the regular season ended as part of a staff shakeup under new head coach Tracy Claeys. He had been with Minnesota for five seasons.
Claeys replaced former coach Jerry Kill, who retired at midseason because of health concerns.
After he was let go by the Gophers, Limegrover admitted that he felt stretched too thin in his duel role as Minnesota’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
Really like Penn State hiring Matt Limegrover as OL coach. Limegrover brings a wealth of knowledge to Nittany Lions’ worst position.
— Brian Bennett (@GBrianBennett) January 13, 2016
While at Minnesota, he was instrumental in re-energizing the Gophers running game. Minnesota’s ground attack finished 28th nationally with 2,801 rushing yards in 2014 and scored 32 rushing touchdowns – the most since 2005.
“I am both humbled and honored to join Coach (James) Franklin’s staff and coach at Penn State,” Limegrover said Wednesday. “Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, I have been a Penn State fan my entire life and to now have the opportunity to coach there is overwhelming. I can’t wait to get there and start working on building an offensive line to help this program become a championship team.
He had plenty of other opportunities. The Pittsburgh native turned down a job to be the head coach at Southern Illinois and interviewed for other offensive line coach vacancies as well.
“I want to be an O-line coach, and be the best one that I can be,” Limegrover told the Star Tribune.
According to 1500 ESPN, Limegrover won’t have to wait long to face his former co-worker Claeys. Penn State hosts Minnesota Oct. 1 in the Big Ten opener for both squads next season.
