University of Minnesota Athletics
Football

Christian Pawola
- Title:
- Assistant Defensive Backs Coach
Christian Pawola joined the University of Minnesota football staff in February 2025 as the Assistant Defensive Backs Coach.
Pawola returns to Minnesota after spending the 2024 season at Michigan State where he was since January 2024. At Michigan State, Pawola was a graduate student defensive coach and was named assistant defensive backs coach in January 2025 before joining the Gopher staff.
Pawola is a 2020 Minnesota graduate and has a degree in marketing. He spent the 2022-23 seasons as a graduate assistant for the Gophers and was also a defensive student assistant from 2019-20.
The Sycamore, Ill., native spent the 2021 season coaching linebackers at Thiel College.
Pawola returns to Minnesota after spending the 2024 season at Michigan State where he was since January 2024. At Michigan State, Pawola was a graduate student defensive coach and was named assistant defensive backs coach in January 2025 before joining the Gopher staff.
Pawola is a 2020 Minnesota graduate and has a degree in marketing. He spent the 2022-23 seasons as a graduate assistant for the Gophers and was also a defensive student assistant from 2019-20.
The Sycamore, Ill., native spent the 2021 season coaching linebackers at Thiel College.