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Gophers taking off in a different direction
Tim Brewster's ability to recruit and promote made him the man to hire for the U.
January 17, 2007
StarTribune
Chip Scoggins
A new chapter in Gophers football began before dawn Tuesday when University of Minnesota Athletic Director Joel Maturi finalized a deal with Denver Broncos tight ends coach Tim Brewster to become the school's 26th head coach.
Maturi flew to Denver a day earlier and, around midnight, offered a contract to Brewster to succeed Glen Mason, who was fired Dec. 31 after 10 seasons. The agreement ended a coaching search that was both clandestine and rumor-filled and ultimately brought the school a hire who never has been a head coach or coordinator at the college or pro level.
However, Brewster is considered a first-rate recruiter who university officials say they believe will be able to sell the football program to fans, develop talent and bring new energy to a team that has struggled to move into the top tier of the Big Ten.
"Coach Brewster has a great reputation as a man of integrity, vision and energy," Maturi wrote in an e-mail. "He is known as a tireless recruiter and he wanted to be a Gopher. From the dozens of people we talked to around the nation, Coach Brewster stood out as a person that could take us to the next level."
Brewster, 46, signed a five-year deal worth $1 million annually and will be introduced at a 1 p.m. news conference today. Brewster will make $400,000 annually in base salary, $400,000 in supplemental salary and $200,000 in deferred compensation that will vest after his contract expires. He has the potential to earn additional money in performance bonuses.
