University of Minnesota Athletics
Football
Sep 27 (Sat)
11:00 AM
- Title:
- Assistant Director of Player Personnel
Mike Valesano is in his third season working with the University of Minnesota football team, and he currently serves as the assistant director of player personnel. He oversees the day-to-day operations for football student-athletes and works closely with the coaching, recruiting, academic and communication staffs.
Valesano played football at the University of St. Thomas and was part of head coach Glenn Caruso's first recruiting class. The year prior to his arrival the school had recorded a 2-8 record, but Valesano and his teammates helped the team achieve a 7-3 mark during his freshman year. St. Thomas improved to 11-2 during his sophomore season and 12-1 during his junior year. Valesano played the first three games of his senior season (team finished with a 13-1 record) before being sidelined with an ankle injury. He returned to the field the following year and helped lead St. Thomas to a 14-1 record and a berth in the national championship game.
During his time at St. Thomas the school improved from a No. 206 national ranking to No. 2. Valesano and St. Thomas also became the first team in MIAC history to post three straight 10-0 regular seasons. He was a First Team All-Conference player and received multiple off the field awards, which included being named to the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Valesano played high school football at Brainerd for Minnesota's all-time winningest high school football coach, Ron Stolski. As a senior, he led Brainerd to an 11-2 record and a berth in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. He was also named the MVP of the Minnesota High School All-Star game's "Outstate" team.
Valesano studied operational management at St. Thomas and graduated in 2012. He earned his Master of Education from the University of Minnesota in August 2015 and is currently working toward a PhD in Human Resource Development.
