May 12, 2016 06:04 AM EDT By Mariel Hemingway, UniversityHerald Reporter

Mark Coyle has left his post at Syracuse to become University of Minnesota's Gopher athletic director. University President Eric Kaler announced the decision and Coyle's new position is being approved by University of Minnesota's Board of Regents.

Mark Coyle was a former athletic administrator for University of Minnesota in 2001 to 2005. Prior to his return to the university, he served as an athletic director at Syracuse University, Boise State University and deputy athletics director for University of Kentucky. His previous stint at University of Minnesota was being an Associate Athletic Director for External Relations and he managed the sales, communications, licensing and ticketing, according to University of Minnesota's press release.

University of Minnesota President Kaler took pride in welcoming Coyle back to the school as the Gopher Athletics director. He believes that Coyle has the skills, experience and drive to direct the team to more successful endeavors in the future. Coyle was honored and expressed that he is looking forward to work with the student-athletes and coaches of University of Minnesota.

Coyle will be sitting in the athletics director position in University of Minnesota that has been empty since August 2015, Syracuse.com reported. Coyle revealed that he left his post at Syracuse University for "family reasons." It was vacated last year as former University of Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague following sexual harassment accusations.

There were other candidates that were being cosidered for the athletic director position at University of Minnesota, BizJournals.com noted. An unnamed source told Star Tribune that the candidates included Penn State Deputy Athletics Director Phil Esten, interim Athletics Director Beth Goetz and Northern Illinois Athletics Director Sean Frazier.

This week, Coyle is said to be meeting with the search committee, coaches and other officials in Gopher Athletics. He will be meeting with other leaders and staff of University of Minnesota as well, Golden Gophers Athletics News wrote.

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