Todd Hoffner enters his 14th season as head coach of the Minnesota State football program. He is also serving as the quarterbacks coach.
Over the course of 13 seasons, Hoffner has led Minnesota State to nine NCAA playoff appearances (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 & 2023) including appearances at the NCAA National Championship game in 2014 and 2019. The Mavericks also advanced to a Mineral Water Bowl game in 2011. He owns an overall record of 131-33 with the Mavericks.
Under Hoffner, the Mavericks have won seven NSIC Championships (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2022) and nine NSIC South Division Championships (2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2022).
In 2008, Hoffner transformed a team that finished 4-7 the year before into a team which finished 9-3, won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division, and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in school history. The Mavericks finished the season ranked #23 in the nation, marking the third time in school history that the Mavericks were ranked at the conclusion of the season by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
In 2009, Minnesota State played to a 10-2 record and was named the NSIC South Division champions. The Mavericks qualified for their second straight NCAA appearance and hosted the first playoff game in the history of Blakeslee Stadium. The Mavericks finished the year ranked #12 in the AFCA coaches poll.
In 2010, the Mavericks finished 6-5, securing the 45th winning season in program history and marking the first time since 1991-94 that MSU has recorded three straight winning seasons.
The 2011 season saw the Mavericks finish with a 9-3 record, including a 28-14 postseason win over Northeastern State in the Mineral Water Bowl. With its 9-3 record, MSU recorded its fourth straight winning season. The Mavericks earned a share of the NSIC Regular Season Championship and the NSIC South Division Championship.
The 2014 season proved to be one for the record books as Hoffner returned as head coach, guiding the Maverick football program to a 14-1 record, en route to its first appearance in the NCAA National Championship game falling to CSU-Pueblo 13-0. The Mavericks finished the season #2 in the AFCA coaches poll.
Six Mavericks would go on to claim All-American honors for their efforts in the 2014 season including Joshua Gordon (Don Hansen, D2Football.com, AFCA, Daktronics, AP), Nathan Hancock (Don Hansen), Josh Meeker (Don Hansen, D2Football.com, AP, Daktronics, CoSIDA), Justin Otto (CoSIDA), Chris Reed (D2Football.com) and Connor Thomas (CoSIDA).
MSU would keep things rolling with home field advantage in the NCAA Tournament as it defeated Pittsburg State (24-21 OT), Minnesota Duluth (44-17) and Concord (47-13) to advance to the NCAA Championship game against CSU-Pueblo.
MSU would establish several program records during its historic season including points scored (600), rushing yards (3,625), total offense (6,704) and all-purpose yards (8,103). The Maverick offense averaged 40 points per game, while the defense allowed just 12.9 points per contest as opposing offenses managed to score just 193 points in 15 games.
The 2015 season saw the Mavericks three-peat as NSIC Champions as they finished the season with a 10-2 overall record. MSU also advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time during his tenure at MSU where it faced Emporia State in the first round falling 52-51. A total of five Mavericks received at least one All-American honor as well, while 12 Mavericks received All-NSIC honors.
Highlights from Minnesota State’s 2015 season would include the Mavericks’ home opener against Minnesota Duluth where the Mavericks erased a 17-point deficit to defeat the Bulldogs 20-17 in front of 6,378 fans. The Mavericks would then go on to set a Blakeslee Stadium attendance record of 7,187 fans who witnessed MSU’s 35-27 homecoming victory over Augustana. Minnesota State was ranked 13th in the final AFCA poll.
The 2016 season saw the Mavericks finish their season with an 8-3 record, marking the seventh time the Mavericks have finished their season with a winning record under Hoffner. In total, eight Mavericks went on to receive All-NSIC honors and five would claim Don Hansen All-Central Region accolades. Zach Dodge would go on to receive Don Hansen All-American honors as well.
Highlights from the 2016 season include MSU’s 45-12 road victory over St. Cloud State, which included a 28-point effort in the second quarter. MSU followed up with another 45-point performance two weeks later as the Mavericks defeated Concordia-St. Paul 45-10 in their annual homecoming game, marking Hoffner’s sixth homecoming victory. Minnesota State then went on to spoil the homecoming festivities at Augustana as the Mavericks defeated the Vikings 42-35.
The 2017 season saw the Mavericks return to dominance in the NSIC as they finished the regular season with an 11-0 record, to go along with an NSIC Championship and an NSIC South Division Championship. Highlights of Minnesota State’s regular season include its 38-23 win over #20 Minnesota Duluth on the road, MSU’s 42-21 win over Augustana during its annual Homecoming Game and its 27-23 road victory over #13 Sioux Falls during the regular season finale. A total of 16 Mavericks would receive All-NSIC honors for their efforts and three of them, Casey Bednarski, Evan Perrizo and Jake Porter would go on to claim All-American accolades.
Behind its 11-0 record, the Mavericks made their fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament under Hoffner. MSU would open the tournament against #20 CSU-Pueblo in a rematch of the 2014 NCAA Championship. The ThunderWolves were able to jump out to an early 10-0 lead, but the Mavericks responded two field goals and touchdown to take a 13-10 lead with just over 13 minutes to go in the game. CSU-Pueblo was able to knot up the score at 13-13, but MSU prevailed in overtime as Casey Bednarski drilled a 37-yard field goal to give MSU the 16-13 win. MSU followed with a dominating 63-21 win over #5 Midwestern State in the second round of the tournament, before falling to Texas A&M-Commerce 31-21 in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Mavericks were ranked fourth in the final AFCA poll.
The Mavericks kept their dominant run in the NSIC going in the 2018 season as they once again finished with an 11-0 regular season record for the third time under Hoffner. With its 11-0 record, MSU claimed an NSIC South Division Championship and a share of the overall NSIC Championship. MSU’s first two road wins of the season at Augustana (38-36) and Winona State (31-21) saw the Mavericks rally in the second half to claim the wins. MSU would also claim its eighth straight Homecoming victory as it defeated St. Cloud State 45-10 in front of an attendance of 6,111 at Blakeslee Stadium. A total of 13 Mavericks would go on to claim All-NSIC honors and six would later garner All-American accolades including Chance Bowen (D2CCA), Alex Goettl (CoSIDA), Nate Gunn (D2CCA), Evan Heim (D2CCA, D2Football.com, Don Hansen), Hunter Toppel (Don Hansen) and Shane Zylstra (AFCA, CoSIDA).
Heading into the 2018 NCAA Tournament, the Mavericks received the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. MSU would host #9 CSU-Pueblo in the second round of the tournament, marking the second straight season that they have met in the NCAA Tournament. As they had in 2017, the Mavericks came out on top as they bested the ThunderWolves 24-10 after scoring the game’s first 24 points. Round three of the NCAA Tournament saw the weather play a factor as snow covered the field at Blakeslee Stadium during MSU’s game vs. #6 Tarleton State. Trailing 10-0 and with the snow continuing to fall the Mavericks began their second drive of the third quarter on their own three yard line with 11:19 to go in the third. MSU then went 97 yards in 27 plays, recording nine first downs, while taking an NCAA record 12:09 off the clock. The drive culminated in a touchdown pass from Ryan Schlichte to Shane Zylstra on a fourth and goal from the five. With just under two minutes to go in the game, Nate Gunn, who set an MSU single-game record with carries, raced into the end zone from 13 yards out to give the Mavericks the 13-10 win. MSU eventually fell to #2 Ferris state in the semifinals by the score of 42-25. The Mavericks wer ranked third in the final AFCA poll.
The 2019 season would prove to be another memorable season for Minnesota State as it once again went 11-0 during the regular season for the fourth time under coach Hoffner. MSU would again claim the NSIC Championship and the NSIC South Division Championship with its 11-0 regular season record. Highlights of the season include MSU’s ninth straight Homecoming victory as the Mavericks bested #12 Minnesota Duluth 52-7, which proved the be the most lopsided victory for either team in their 39 meetings. Two weeks later, Minnesota State would set a team single-game record of 74 points score in its 74-17 win over the University of Mary. The following week the Mavericks would surpass the record of 74 points with an 81-0 shutout of Minnesota Crookston, which marked coach Hoffner’s 100th career victory at MSU in his home state of North Dakota.
As they had during the previous season, the Mavericks claimed the No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. For the third consecutive year, MSU would take on #9 CSU-Pueblo at Blakeslee Stadium, and for the third straight year the Mavericks would prevail as they bested the ThunderWolves 35-7. The third round saw a rematch of the third round of the 2017 playoffs as the Mavericks hosted #21 Texas A&M-Commerce. This time the Mavericks would dominate as the they bested the Lions 42-21. MSU’s fourth trip to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament would be the first time since 2008 that the Mavericks would take part in a road NCAA Tournament game as they made the trip to #8 Slippery Rock. Minnesota State would go on to claim its first NCAA Tournament victory on the road since 1993 as it bested The Rock 58-15 to advance to the NCAA Championship for the second time in team history. #20 West Florida would go on to defeat Minnesota State 48-40 in the NCAA Championship game.
MSU would set several team records during the 2019 season, including points scored (712), rushing yards (4,246), rushing attempts (713), rushing touchdowns (59), total offense (7,766), all-purpose yards (9,063) and punt returns (44). The Mavericks would finish the 2019 season ranked second in the AFCA poll, while five Mavericks including Alex Goettl (CoSIDA), Nate Gunn (AFCA, AP, D2CCA, D2Football.com, Don Hansen), Evan Heim (AP, D2CCA, D2Football.com, Don Hansen, Zach Robertson (Don Hansen) and Shane Zylstra (AFCA, CoSIDA, AP, D2CCA, D2Football.com, Don Hansen), claimed All-American accolades.
The Mavericks returned to action in the fall of 2021 after the 2020 season was cancelled due to Covid-19. The Mavericks went 6-5, marking their 13th consecutive winning season. Seven Mavericks received All-NSIC honors Jalen Sample, Hunter Toppel and Ty’Shonan Brooks who each received All-NSIC First Team honors. Brooks would go on to receive AFCA All-American Second Team honors.
The 2022 season saw the Mavericks claim their seventh NSIC Championship under coach Hoffner as the Mavericks posted a 9-2 conference record, including wins in their final five games of the regular season. A total of 12 Mavericks claimed All-NSIC honors for their efforts, including Marshall Foerner, Jack Roussel, Nyles Williams, Payton Conrad, Trent Carpenter and Trey Vaval who all earned First Team honors. Valval would go on to claim D2CCA All-American Second Team honors.
Behind its 9-2 NSIC record during the 2022 regular season, Minnesota State returned to the NCAA Tournament marking the eighth time the Mavericks have reached the NCAA Tournament during Hoffner’s tenure. The Mavericks hosted Wayne State in the first round and came away with a 26-9 win at Blakeslee Stadium. MSU then traveled to Golden, Colo., to take on Colorado School of Mines in the second round. The 93 combined points proved to be one of the highest scoring games in program history as Mines defeated the Mavericks 48-45.
The Mavericks made their ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament under coach Hoffner as they finished the year with a 9-3 record. The Mavericks finished the regular season second in the NSIC standings with an 8-2 conference record. In total, 12 Mavericks claimed All-NSIC honors, including Shen Butler-Lawson, Marshall Foerner, Zach Roggow, Jacob Daulton, Maven Kretche, Trey Vaval and Khai West who claimed All-NSIC First Team honors. Butler-Lawson, Vaval and Krecthe would all claim AFCA All-American honors. Butler-Lawson also received AP All-American accolades as well.
In 13 seasons under Hoffner, 191 Mavericks have earned All-NSIC South Division honors, including 12 during the 2023season. In 2009, Hoffner was named the NSIC Coach of the Year and the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year. He would be named the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year again in 2018. Hoffner has also seen five of his players receive extra recognition from the NSIC including NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year Junior Aumavae in 2009, NSIC Defensive Player of the Year Joshua Gordon in 2014 & 2015 and NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year Nick Pieruccini in 2014. In 2017, Shane Zylstra was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year and Nate Gunn was named the NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year. In 2019, Hoffner was named the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year for the third time, before being named the AFCA Coach of the Year. Nate Gunn was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year in 2019, while Jack Leius was named the NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Khai West was named the NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2023.
During his 132 years at MSU, 200 Mavericks have earned Academic All-NSIC honors and seven went on to claim CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, including Alex Goettl, Josh Meeker, Justin Otto, Jake Porter, Jeffrey Raymond, Connor Thomas and Shane Zylstra. The Mavericks have also been active in the community as they have participated in youth reading programs, the Million Tree Project, Echo Food Shelf and playground supervision.
Hoffner – who was introduced as the Maverick’s new head coach on Jan. 25, 2008 – spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons as the offensive coordinator for the University of South Dakota. Prior to his stint in Vermillion, Hoffner spent seven seasons as the head coach at Wisconsin-Eau Claire (1999-2005) where he led the Blugolds to a 42-28 record and a UWEC to a league title in 2001. His teams at UW-Eau Claire were nationally ranked five consecutive years, including as high as sixth in the nation. Before taking the reigns at UW-Eau-Claire, Hoffner served as an assistant coach for eight seasons at Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1991-98).
A 1989 Valley City State University grad where he was a cornerback on the football team and a 400-meter hurdler on the track team, Hoffner earned a master’s degree from the University North Dakota in 1991. A native of Esmond, N.D., Hoffner and his wife, Melodee, have three children.
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