The Minnesota Golden Gophers have officially promoted safeties coach Danny Collins to the role of defensive coordinator. Collins has been with the program since 2017, beginning as the defensive quality control coach before moving on to roles as a graduate assistant, senior defensive analyst, and safeties coach.
Collins previously served as the play-caller for the Gophers during their 2023 Quick Lane Bowl win over Bowling Green, where the team limited Bowling Green to just 303 total yards while allowing 24 points.
Along with Collins’ promotion, the Gophers have named former linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin as the new linebackers coach. Sori-Marin had been a defensive analyst in 2023 and worked as the nickels/assistant linebackers coach in 2024.
Additionally, senior defensive analyst Dennis Dottin-Carter has been elevated to the position of rush-end coach. Dottin-Carter worked closely with Winston DeLattiboudere over the last two seasons to help coach the Gophers’ defensive line.
Kevin Kane, who was hired earlier this week, will take on the role of Nickles/Outside Linebackers Coach. He will assist Sori-Marin with the linebackers and also take over Sori-Marin’s previous duties coaching the nickelbacks.
Keegan O’Hara has been appointed as the assistant quarterbacks coach. O’Hara had previously worked with the quarterbacks as an offensive analyst since 2023.
Additionally, Gophers Nation reported the appointment of Zack Lucas as the new Director of Football Operations, following the departure of Daniel Ifft, who left earlier this month for an opportunity outside of football.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
University of Minnesota football coach P.J. Fleck announced today that Danny Collins has been promoted to defensive coordinator. Collins, who will continue coaching the safeties, has been with the program since 2017 and most recently served as the safeties coach and pass game coordinator.
Fleck also revealed that Mariano Sori-Marin will take over as the linebackers coach and Dennis Dottin-Carter will coach the rush ends. Additionally, Kevin Kane has been hired as the nickels/outer linebackers coach.
“I am excited for Danny, Mariano, Dennis, and Kevin,” said Fleck. “Danny has been with me since my time at Western Michigan. He’s an elite defensive mind who has recruited and coached All-American players, and I’m confident he will excel in coaching and calling our defense.
“Mariano played for us at Minnesota and has worked with us for the past two seasons. He will bring great leadership and poise to the linebacker room, and I’m sure the players will respond well to his guidance.
“Dennis has been with us for two years now and is an outstanding coach and person. His coaching style and the relationship he’s developed with defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere were key factors in our defensive line’s success last year.
“Kevin is an experienced coach with a strong background in calling defenses at several programs. His extensive Big Ten experience will be a huge asset to our staff. We’re excited to welcome him and his family to Minnesota.”
Danny Collins: Defensive Coordinator / Safeties Coach
The 2025 season will mark Danny Collins’ ninth year at Minnesota, his first as defensive coordinator, his fourth year coaching the safeties, and his 13th year working with head coach P.J. Fleck.
Collins joined Fleck at Minnesota in 2017, initially serving as the team’s defensive quality control coach. He became a graduate assistant in 2018, returned to quality control in 2019, and was promoted to Senior Defensive Analyst in 2020. In 2022, he took on the role of safeties coach.
During his time at Minnesota, Collins has coached All-Americans Koi Perich and Tyler Nubin, and has seen two of his safeties—Nubin (New York Giants) and Jordan Howden (New Orleans Saints)—drafted into the NFL. In 2024, safeties Perich and Kerry Brown were both named semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, with Perich ultimately becoming one of the five national finalists.
Collins will call the Minnesota defense for the second time in his career when the 2025 season begins, having previously done so in the 2023 Quick Lane Bowl victory over Bowling Green.
Under Collins’ guidance, the Gophers have consistently excelled defensively. In 2024, Minnesota ranked fifth in the nation in total defense, seventh in team passing efficiency defense, and ninth in scoring defense. In 2022, they were eighth in total defense, fourth in scoring defense, and seventh in passing efficiency defense. In 2021, the Gophers ranked third in total defense and tied for sixth in scoring defense.
Mariano Sori-Marin: Linebackers Coach
Mariano Sori-Marin is no stranger to the Minnesota linebacker position, having played it for the Gophers from 2018 to 2022.
A native of Mokena, Ill., Sori-Marin appeared in 58 career games for Minnesota, finishing his career with 274 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one interception. He earned All-Big Ten Third Team honors in 2022 and was an Honorable Mention selection in 2021. Additionally, Sori-Marin was named Academic All-Big Ten four times and was recognized as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
Sori-Marin joined the Gophers’ staff in 2023 as a defensive analyst and was promoted to the role of nickels/assistant linebackers coach in January 2024.
Under his coaching last season, three of the team’s top six tacklers—linebackers Cody Lindenberg and Maverick Baranowski, and nickelback Jack Henderson—played key roles. The unit helped Minnesota finish the year ranked fifth in the nation in total defense and 12th in rushing defense.
Dennis Dottin-Carter: Rush Ends Coach
Dennis Dottin-Carter joined the Gophers’ staff in January 2023 as a senior defensive analyst. He has worked closely with the team’s defensive line and played a key role in the significant improvements in the team’s sack and tackles for loss totals.
In 2022, the year before Dottin-Carter’s arrival, Minnesota recorded 19 sacks and 47 tackles for loss. Last season, the Gophers saw a substantial increase, finishing with 28 sacks and 66 tackles for loss. Additionally, the defensive line made noticeable strides in pass breakups, with the unit breaking up seven passes in 2022 and 14 in 2024. Jah Joyner led the way with seven pass breakups, while Jalen Logan-Redding added four.
Kevin Kane: Nickles / Outside Linebackers Coach
The 2025 season will mark Kevin Kane’s first year at Minnesota, joining the Gophers after two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Purdue. Kane has an extensive coaching background, having also worked at Illinois, SMU, Northern Illinois, Kansas, and Wisconsin. Prior to his time at Purdue, he served as the defensive coordinator at SMU and Northern Illinois.
Kane brings a wealth of defensive coaching experience to Dinkytown, having focused exclusively on the defensive side of the ball since 2012, when he began coaching linebackers at Northern Illinois. He has also coached linebackers at Purdue, Illinois, SMU, and Kansas.
Leave a Reply