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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Fleck, Winfield Highlight Day 1 Big Ten Honors
12/3/2019 2:02:00 PM | Football
Fleck named Big Ten Coach of the Year, while Winfield tabbed Defensive Back of the Year
The Big Ten conference announced defensive postseason honors and coach of the year awards today and the Gophers were well represented. The conference will announce offensive awards on Wednesday.
Head coach P.J. Fleck was named the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year, which is voted on by the conference coaches. Fleck, who has been a head coach for seven years, has now been named a conference coach of the year three times. In addition to this year, he was also named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016.
Defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. was named the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year, becoming the first Gopher to ever receive the honor. Minnesota's last student-athlete to receive and individual Big Ten award was Emmit Carpenter, who was named the Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year in 2016.
"This is a tremendous honor, but it is one that belongs to our entire staff, team and administration," said Fleck. "Head coaches are only as good as the people around them and we have the best in the business. I also want to thank my wife Heather and our children, as I would not be able to do this without their unconditional love and support."
Fleck has guided Minnesota to a 10-2 overall record this year and a 7-2 mark in the Big Ten. The 10 regular season wins are the most for the Gophers since 1905 and this year is also the first time ever that Minnesota won seven Big Ten games in a season.
Winfield, who is also one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, was also named All-Big Ten First Team by both the coaches and media.
"It's humbling to receive this recognition, but I could not have done it without my teammates and coaches," said Winfield. "They have been with me every day and pushing me to change my best and become the best player I could be, so I am definitely looking forward to sharing this award with them."
Winfield leads the team with 83 tackles, which includes 58 solo stops. He also has 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks this year to go along with seven interceptions and two forced fumbles. Winfield's seven interceptions tied a school single-season record and also rank fourth in the NCAA this year.
Rush end Carter Coughlin was named All-Big Ten Second Team by both the coaches and media. Coughlin was also named All-Big Ten Second Team in 2018 by the coaches and media.
Defensive back Coney Durr, linebacker Kamal Martin and defensive lineman Sam Renner were all named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the coaches and media, while Thomas Barber and Benjamin St-Juste were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the media.
Defensive lineman Winston DeLattiboudere was also selected as Minnesota's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Minnesota's Big Ten Honorees
All-Big Ten First Team
Antoine Winfield Jr. (coaches, media)
All-Big Ten Second Team
Carter Coughlin (coaches, media)
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
Coney Durr (coaches, media)
Kamal Martin (coaches, media)
Sam Renner (coaches, media)
Thomas Barber (media)
Benjamin St-Juste (media)
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
Winston DeLattiboudere
Head coach P.J. Fleck was named the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year, which is voted on by the conference coaches. Fleck, who has been a head coach for seven years, has now been named a conference coach of the year three times. In addition to this year, he was also named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016.
Defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. was named the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year, becoming the first Gopher to ever receive the honor. Minnesota's last student-athlete to receive and individual Big Ten award was Emmit Carpenter, who was named the Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year in 2016.
"This is a tremendous honor, but it is one that belongs to our entire staff, team and administration," said Fleck. "Head coaches are only as good as the people around them and we have the best in the business. I also want to thank my wife Heather and our children, as I would not be able to do this without their unconditional love and support."
Fleck has guided Minnesota to a 10-2 overall record this year and a 7-2 mark in the Big Ten. The 10 regular season wins are the most for the Gophers since 1905 and this year is also the first time ever that Minnesota won seven Big Ten games in a season.
Winfield, who is also one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, was also named All-Big Ten First Team by both the coaches and media.
"It's humbling to receive this recognition, but I could not have done it without my teammates and coaches," said Winfield. "They have been with me every day and pushing me to change my best and become the best player I could be, so I am definitely looking forward to sharing this award with them."
Winfield leads the team with 83 tackles, which includes 58 solo stops. He also has 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks this year to go along with seven interceptions and two forced fumbles. Winfield's seven interceptions tied a school single-season record and also rank fourth in the NCAA this year.
Rush end Carter Coughlin was named All-Big Ten Second Team by both the coaches and media. Coughlin was also named All-Big Ten Second Team in 2018 by the coaches and media.
Defensive back Coney Durr, linebacker Kamal Martin and defensive lineman Sam Renner were all named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the coaches and media, while Thomas Barber and Benjamin St-Juste were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the media.
Defensive lineman Winston DeLattiboudere was also selected as Minnesota's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Minnesota's Big Ten Honorees
All-Big Ten First Team
Antoine Winfield Jr. (coaches, media)
All-Big Ten Second Team
Carter Coughlin (coaches, media)
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
Coney Durr (coaches, media)
Kamal Martin (coaches, media)
Sam Renner (coaches, media)
Thomas Barber (media)
Benjamin St-Juste (media)
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
Winston DeLattiboudere
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