Both Minnesota coordinators resign

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota coach Tim Brewster lost his top two assistants on Tuesday, with the resignations of offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar and defensive coordinator Ted Roof.

Roof made a lateral move to Auburn, which recently hired Gene Chizik as coach.

Dunbar's departure was not a surprise after two disappointing seasons. Two days after a 55-0 loss by the Gophers to Iowa in the final regular season game, Brewster hired Alabama director of player personnel Tim Davis as his running game coordinator and offensive line coach with the goal of adding more power on the ground to balance the passing attack.

Dunbar was given a three-year contract with an annual base salary of $265,000 to install a version of the trendy spread offense after productive stays at Northwestern and California, but the Gophers didn't move the ball with any consistency while adjusting to a complicated system.

Roof's decision to leave was not expected, after an impressive first season following his firing as Duke's head coach the year before.

He simplified the scheme and guiding a significant statistical turnaround from a defense that gave up the most yards of all the 119 teams playing major college football in 2007. This year, the Gophers ranked 79th in yards allowed and 61st in scoring average against. They were also second in the Big Ten in turnover margin.

"Good coaches are always going to be in demand, and I wish Ted the best of luck in the future," Brewster said in a statement issued by the school.

Roof's departure means Minnesota will soon have its seventh defensive coordinator in the last 10 years. Brewster said he will conduct a national search to fill the vacancies on his staff. He was traveling and unavailable for further comment, spokesman Andy Seeley said.

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