Bob Ligashesky - Football Coach - University of Minnesota Athletics

Bob Ligashesky

Title:
Special Teams Coordinator

Bob Ligashesky was named University of Minnesota Special Teams Coordinator in January 2024.

Ligasheksy comes to Minnesota with nearly 40 years of coaching experience, most recently serving as Special Teams Coordinator at Syracuse.

He spent 12 years of his career in the NFL, mostly coaching special teams. He has led special team units for the Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers (2008 Super Bowl champion) and the St. Louis Rams. He has also coached special teams with the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars and coached tight ends with the Denver Broncos.

He also previously worked with Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, as they were on the same 2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff. Ligashesky was coaching safeties and special teams, while Fleck was coaching receivers.

The veteran coach also has extensive experience at the college level. In addition to Syracuse, he has coached at Bowling Green, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Kent State, Arizona State (graduate assistant) and Wake Forest (graduate assistant).

Ligashesky has mentored some of the best special team players in the game, as he has worked with NFL kickers Jeff Reed (Steelers), Connor Barth (Buccaneers) and Sebastian Janikowski (Raiders) and long snapper Jon Weeks (Texans) and punter Shane Lechler (Texans). In college, he coached standouts in Illinois punter Blake Hayes and Illini kicker Chase McLaughlin, as well as Bowling Green kicker Nate Needham.

At Syracuse, his most recent stop, Ligashesky’s units ranked second in kick return defense in the ACC in 2023 and third in the nation in kickoff return average in 2022.

LIGASHESKY AT A GLANCE

Coaching Experience
2024-present: Minnesota – Special Teams Coordinator
2022-23: Syracuse – Special Teams Coordinator
2021: Bowling Green – Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties
2018-20: Illinois - Special Teams Coordinator
2016-17: Illinois - Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends
2013-15: Houston Texans – Special Teams Coordinator
2012: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties
2011: Oakland Raiders – Special Teams Assistant
2010: Denver Broncos – Tight Ends
2007-09: Pittsburgh Steelers – Special Teams Coordinator
2005-06: St. Louis Rams – Special Teams Coordinator
2004: Jacksonville Jaguars – Assistant Special Teams Coach
2000-03: Pittsburgh – Tight Ends / Special Teams Coordinator
1999: Bowling Green – Assistant Head Coach / Linebackers / Special Teams Coordinator
1991-98: Bowling Green – Linebackers / Special Teams Coordinator
1989-90: Kent State – Outside Linebackers / Special Teams Coach
1986-88: Arizona State – Graduate Assistant
1985: Wake Forest – Graduate Assistant

Bowls / NFL Postseason Games Coached
2023 Boca Raton Bowl (Syracuse)
2022 Pinstripe Bowl (Syracuse)
2019 Redbox Bowl (Illinois)
2015 NFL Wildcard Round (Houston Texans)
2008 Super Bowl (Pittsburgh Steelers)
2007 NFL Wildcard Round (Pittsburgh Steelers)
2003 Continental Tire Bowl (Pittsburgh)
2002 Insight Bowl (Pittsburgh)
2001 Tangerine Bowl (Pittsburgh)
2000 Insight.com Bowl (Pittsburgh)
1992 Las Vegas Bowl (Bowling Green)
1991 California Raisin Bowl (Bowling Green)
1987 Freedom Bowl (Arizona State)
1987 Rose Bowl (Arizona State)

Playing Experience: Indiana University of Pennsylvania (defensive back), 1982-84
Hometown: McKees Rocks, Pa.
High School: Sto-Rox
Alma Mater: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1985

Wife: Shelley
Daughter: Sydney