On the same day Minnesota elevated safeties coach Danny Collins to defensive coordinator, Mariano Sori-Marin is anticipated to take the team’s open linebackers coach role, as reported by 247Sports’ Ryan Burns.
Sori-Marin served as a linebacker for the Gophers from 2018 to 2022. He participated in 58 games, logged over 2,000 career snaps, and concluded his college career with 274 total tackles. He became part of Minnesota’s coaching team in 2023 as a defensive analyst and was elevated to nickel coach/assistant linebackers coach in 2024.
The linebackers were coached by former defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman in 2024, but in 2025, that responsibility will be taken over by Sori-Marin. He becomes the second former Gophers player to serve as a position coach on the staff, joining defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere III.
Once Hetherman decided to leave for Miami (FL) and Collins was promoted to defensive coordinator, the linebackers coach position was the only one remaining vacant, making this likely the last significant change to Minnesota’s coaching staff for 2025.
Sori-Marin, DeLattiboudere, and Collins have each either played or coached under P.J. Fleck for a minimum of six seasons. In 2025, Minnesota’s defensive coaching team will possess a deep understanding of the Row The Boat culture that Fleck has established in Dinkytown.
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