Minnesota’s Director of Football Operations Randy Taylor resigned from his position with the team, according to a press release by the University on Thursday.

Gophers head coach Tim Brewster said that Taylor has left the program to pursue other opportunities, and that a national search for his replacement will begin immediately.

Brewster’s relationship with Taylor began when Taylor was assistant to the head coach at the University of Illinois while Brewster was a tight end for the Illini.

Taylor was one of Brewster’s first hires when he arrived at Minnesota to take over the football program in January of 2007. Taylor’s final day in the office will be Wednesday, Feb. 20.

“Randy Taylor came to the University of Minnesota with the intention of helping me establish our program knowing that it was not going to be a longterm stay,” Brewster said in a University press release Thursday. “In one short year, Randy did a phenomenal job of helping me lay the foundation of this program.”

Prior to his time with the Gophers, Taylor spent five years working for Taylor Scouting Services and Scout.com as the director of NFL experts as well as the regional manager for West Coast College Recruiting.

“Randy is one of the best in the country when it comes to football operations and we are going to miss his professionalism,” Brewster said. “More importantly we are going to miss his friendship. We wish Randy nothing but the best as he moves forward.”

–Luke Middendorf

Women hit the road

A streaking Minnesota’s women’s tennis team – winners of five of its first six duals of the spring season – plays three nonconference home matches at the Baseline Tennis Center this weekend.

The Gophers (5-1), ranked 54th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, start their long home stand by hosting coach Tyler Thomson’s alma mater, Montana, at 6 tonight.

Minnesota plays two matches on Sunday. The Gophers challenge Eastern Michigan at 9:30 a.m. and conclude the weekend by taking on Gustavus Adolphus at 3 p.m.

Men hit the road

Home cooking didn’t bring out great results for the Minnesota men’s tennis team. Like it or not, the Gophers (1-4) will find out in the coming weeks if they can play better away from home.

Coach Geoff Young’s squad plays six straight duals on the road starting this weekend when Minnesota travels to Tucson, Ariz. The Gophers challenge San Diego State at 1 p.m. Saturday and Arizona at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

–Zach Eisendrath