University of Minnesota Athletics
Football
Sanford Jr., Mike
Mike Sanford Jr.
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
Mike Sanford Jr. joined the Minnesota coaching staff in January 2020. He serves as Minnesota’s offensive coordinator and also coaches the quarterbacks. Sanford has more than 15 years of collegiate coaching experience on his resume, including two years as a head coach at Western Kentucky.
In 2020, his first with the Gophers, Sanford oversaw an offense that was powered by running back Mohamed Ibrahim. Ibrahim was named the 2020 Big Ten Running Back of the Year and was an AP Third-Team All-American, as he set school records in season rushing yards per game (153.7), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (8) and touchdowns in consecutive games (8). He tied school records in most rushing touchdowns in a game (4), most rushing touchdowns in a first half (4), most rushing touchdowns in one half (4) and consecutive 200-yard rushing games (2).
Ibrahim rushed 201 times (25th most in school single-season history) for 1,076 yards (23rd most in school single season-history) and 15 touchdowns (most ever for a junior at Minnesota and ranks fourth in school-single season history) in the COVID-19 shortened season. He led Big Ten in the following categories: rushing attempts (201), rushing yards (1,076), rushing yards per game (153.7), rushing touchdowns (15), scoring (90), points per game (12.9) and all-purpose yards per game (168.4).
Sanford came to Minnesota from Utah State where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019. The Aggies averaged 29.23 points per game under Sanford and displayed a balanced offense as they averaged 431.1 yards per game (279.08 passing yards per game and 152.2 rushing yards per game). Utah State rushed for 18 touchdowns and threw for 22, as it won seven games in its first year with Sanford calling the offense.
Sanford spent 2017-18 as the head coach at Western Kentucky. He led his team to the 2017 AutoNation Cure Bowl in his first season, making him one of just five rookie head coaches to take his team to a bowl game that year. Sanford had two players drafted from that team as linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe went in the Chicago Bears in the fourth round and quarterback Mike White was taken in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys. Tight end Deon Yelder signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Under Sanford, Western Kentucky had 28 Conference USA honorees in two seasons. Additionally, Western Kentucky increased their community service commitment by more than 500 percent, while 75 Hilltoppers saw their grade point average rise during Sanford’s first year as head coach and 39 players posted a 3.0 semester GPA or higher.
Prior to his head coaching stint at Western Kentucky, Sanford spent 2015-16 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame. While with the Fighting Irish, he mentored quarterback DeShone Kizer, who finished his Notre Dame career with the best per-game total offense average in school history (272.2), the highest points responsible for per-game mark (15.6) and the second-best passing efficiency rating (147.7).
The Fighting Irish averaged 466.4 yards of total offense per game in 2015, the third-most in program history, to go along with a near-record 34.2 points per game that season.
Prior to Notre Dame, Sanford spent one season at his alma mater, Boise State, in 2014, as the Broncos went 12-2, won the Mountain West championship and defeated Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl. Quarterback Grant Hedrick led the FBS in completion percentage (70.8), while ranking seventh in passing yards per attempt (8.91), ninth in passing efficiency (157.2), 13th in passing yardage (3,696) and 14th in total offense per game (306.3).
While Sanford’s development of quarterbacks is well documented, his work with Boise State running back Jay Ajayi is even more notable. In Sanford’s offense, Ajayi led the FBS in scoring with 13.7 points per game and became the only player in FBS history to record 1,800 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the same season. Ajayi, who was named a 2017 Pro Bowler with the Philadelphia Eagles, set Boise State single-season records for rushing yards (1,823), rushing touchdowns (28), all-purpose yards (2,358) and carries (347) under Sanford.
Everywhere Sanford has been, great players have followed. He helped bring in top-15 recruiting classes in each of his two seasons at Notre Dame, the top-rated class in the Mountain West during his season at Boise State, and back-to-back top-20 national recruiting classes, including a top-five class in 2012, each of his final two seasons at Stanford, while serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. Twenty-three members of the Cardinal’s 2012 and 2013 signing classes were rated in the top-25 nationally at their respective positions, while 22 were rated at least four stars, including six five-star selections.
During his second stop in Palo Alto, Sanford helped the Cardinal capture Pac-12 Championships and Rose Bowl appearances in both 2012 and 2013, as well as a Fiesta Bowl trip to cap the 2011 season. As the running backs coach from 2011-12, Sanford was instrumental in the development of Doak Walker Award and 2013 Rose Bowl offensive MVP Stepfan Taylor. Sanford then coached the quarterbacks in 2013, where he mentored Kevin Hogan, a 2016 NFL Draft fifth-round selection.
Sanford spent the 2010 season at Western Kentucky as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach after one year at Yale – his first full-time coaching position – where he coached the tight ends, fullbacks and served as recruiting coordinator in 2009. Sanford spent two years on Jim Harbaugh’s staff at Stanford as an offensive assistant from 2007-08 and two years as a graduate assistant at UNLV under his father, Mike Sr., then the head coach of the Rebels.
Sanford is married to the former Anne-Marie Mitchell and they have two sons (Gunnar, Griffin) and one daughter (Peyton).
The Lexington, Va., native earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Boise State in 2005. He played quarterback for the Broncos from 2000-04.
The Sanford File
Coaching History:
2020: Minnesota – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2019: Utah State – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2017-18: Western Kentucky – Head Coach
2015-16: Notre Dame – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2014: Boise State – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2013: Stanford – Recruiting Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers
2012: Stanford – Recruiting Coordinator/Running Backs
2011: Stanford – Running Backs
2010: Western Kentucky – Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2009: Yale – Recruiting Coordinator/Tight Ends/Fullbacks
2007-08: Stanford – Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks
2005-06: UNLV – Graduate Assistant/Specialists/Asst. Quarterbacks
Playing Experience:
2000-04: Boise State (Quarterback)
Education:
2005: Boise State (Political Science)
Family:
Wife: Anne-Marie
Daughter: Peyton
Sons: Gunnar, Griffin
In 2020, his first with the Gophers, Sanford oversaw an offense that was powered by running back Mohamed Ibrahim. Ibrahim was named the 2020 Big Ten Running Back of the Year and was an AP Third-Team All-American, as he set school records in season rushing yards per game (153.7), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (8) and touchdowns in consecutive games (8). He tied school records in most rushing touchdowns in a game (4), most rushing touchdowns in a first half (4), most rushing touchdowns in one half (4) and consecutive 200-yard rushing games (2).
Ibrahim rushed 201 times (25th most in school single-season history) for 1,076 yards (23rd most in school single season-history) and 15 touchdowns (most ever for a junior at Minnesota and ranks fourth in school-single season history) in the COVID-19 shortened season. He led Big Ten in the following categories: rushing attempts (201), rushing yards (1,076), rushing yards per game (153.7), rushing touchdowns (15), scoring (90), points per game (12.9) and all-purpose yards per game (168.4).
Sanford came to Minnesota from Utah State where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019. The Aggies averaged 29.23 points per game under Sanford and displayed a balanced offense as they averaged 431.1 yards per game (279.08 passing yards per game and 152.2 rushing yards per game). Utah State rushed for 18 touchdowns and threw for 22, as it won seven games in its first year with Sanford calling the offense.
Sanford spent 2017-18 as the head coach at Western Kentucky. He led his team to the 2017 AutoNation Cure Bowl in his first season, making him one of just five rookie head coaches to take his team to a bowl game that year. Sanford had two players drafted from that team as linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe went in the Chicago Bears in the fourth round and quarterback Mike White was taken in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys. Tight end Deon Yelder signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Under Sanford, Western Kentucky had 28 Conference USA honorees in two seasons. Additionally, Western Kentucky increased their community service commitment by more than 500 percent, while 75 Hilltoppers saw their grade point average rise during Sanford’s first year as head coach and 39 players posted a 3.0 semester GPA or higher.
Prior to his head coaching stint at Western Kentucky, Sanford spent 2015-16 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame. While with the Fighting Irish, he mentored quarterback DeShone Kizer, who finished his Notre Dame career with the best per-game total offense average in school history (272.2), the highest points responsible for per-game mark (15.6) and the second-best passing efficiency rating (147.7).
The Fighting Irish averaged 466.4 yards of total offense per game in 2015, the third-most in program history, to go along with a near-record 34.2 points per game that season.
Prior to Notre Dame, Sanford spent one season at his alma mater, Boise State, in 2014, as the Broncos went 12-2, won the Mountain West championship and defeated Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl. Quarterback Grant Hedrick led the FBS in completion percentage (70.8), while ranking seventh in passing yards per attempt (8.91), ninth in passing efficiency (157.2), 13th in passing yardage (3,696) and 14th in total offense per game (306.3).
While Sanford’s development of quarterbacks is well documented, his work with Boise State running back Jay Ajayi is even more notable. In Sanford’s offense, Ajayi led the FBS in scoring with 13.7 points per game and became the only player in FBS history to record 1,800 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the same season. Ajayi, who was named a 2017 Pro Bowler with the Philadelphia Eagles, set Boise State single-season records for rushing yards (1,823), rushing touchdowns (28), all-purpose yards (2,358) and carries (347) under Sanford.
Everywhere Sanford has been, great players have followed. He helped bring in top-15 recruiting classes in each of his two seasons at Notre Dame, the top-rated class in the Mountain West during his season at Boise State, and back-to-back top-20 national recruiting classes, including a top-five class in 2012, each of his final two seasons at Stanford, while serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. Twenty-three members of the Cardinal’s 2012 and 2013 signing classes were rated in the top-25 nationally at their respective positions, while 22 were rated at least four stars, including six five-star selections.
During his second stop in Palo Alto, Sanford helped the Cardinal capture Pac-12 Championships and Rose Bowl appearances in both 2012 and 2013, as well as a Fiesta Bowl trip to cap the 2011 season. As the running backs coach from 2011-12, Sanford was instrumental in the development of Doak Walker Award and 2013 Rose Bowl offensive MVP Stepfan Taylor. Sanford then coached the quarterbacks in 2013, where he mentored Kevin Hogan, a 2016 NFL Draft fifth-round selection.
Sanford spent the 2010 season at Western Kentucky as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach after one year at Yale – his first full-time coaching position – where he coached the tight ends, fullbacks and served as recruiting coordinator in 2009. Sanford spent two years on Jim Harbaugh’s staff at Stanford as an offensive assistant from 2007-08 and two years as a graduate assistant at UNLV under his father, Mike Sr., then the head coach of the Rebels.
Sanford is married to the former Anne-Marie Mitchell and they have two sons (Gunnar, Griffin) and one daughter (Peyton).
The Lexington, Va., native earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Boise State in 2005. He played quarterback for the Broncos from 2000-04.
The Sanford File
Coaching History:
2020: Minnesota – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2019: Utah State – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2017-18: Western Kentucky – Head Coach
2015-16: Notre Dame – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2014: Boise State – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2013: Stanford – Recruiting Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers
2012: Stanford – Recruiting Coordinator/Running Backs
2011: Stanford – Running Backs
2010: Western Kentucky – Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2009: Yale – Recruiting Coordinator/Tight Ends/Fullbacks
2007-08: Stanford – Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks
2005-06: UNLV – Graduate Assistant/Specialists/Asst. Quarterbacks
Playing Experience:
2000-04: Boise State (Quarterback)
Education:
2005: Boise State (Political Science)
Family:
Wife: Anne-Marie
Daughter: Peyton
Sons: Gunnar, Griffin
Coach Fleck Previews Northwestern State
Monday, September 01
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win Opener
Monday, September 01
Ski-U-March Season Opener
Friday, August 29
Highlights: Gophers 23, Buffalo 10
Thursday, August 28
