Javon Tracy became the first Gophers player to return a punt for a touchdown since 2018 on Thursday night, and then he became the first player to bring two back to the end zone in program history. P.J. Fleck’s decision to hire Daniel Da Prato as the program’s new special teams coordinator is already paying off.
The Gophers have had a roller coaster history of special teams play under Fleck. Rob Wenger followed him from Western Michigan, and he was Minnesota’s special teams coordinator from 2017 to 2024. Fleck brought in veteran Bob Ligashesky as his replacement, and he made another change after just one season.
“Bringing in Daniel Da Prato has been one of the better decisions we’ve made here.”Significant words from PJ Fleck after Minnesota’s special teams performance tonight. pic.twitter.com/WURwQp0JVH
— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) September 4, 2026
“I think changes are really hard to make, and I think you, as a head football coach, have the decision to do what’s right. A lot of people have misconceptions when coaches make decisions; it’s the best decision for that head coach, it’s the decision for the school… Bringing in Daniel Da Prato has been one of the better decisions we’ve made here.”
Da Prato is 44 years old, and he has been the special teams coordinator at numerous Division I programs such as Sacramento State, Montana State, South Florida and Texas State. He was most recently with New Mexico in 2025, and he joined the Gophers in the same role this offseason…