The University of Minnesota Board of Regents Friday unanimously approved Mark Coyle as the new Gopher Athletics Director. Regents Chair Dean Johnson from Willmar says University President Eric Kaler and the search committee have hired an experienced and highly qualified athletics director. Johnson says while there have recently been some well-publicized challenges associated with Gopher Athletics, the Board has “full confidence” in Coyle’s ability to stabilize the department and provide strategic leadership.