Former University of Minnesota associate athletics director Mark Coyle has been named the new Boise State athletics director.

HeâÄôll take over New YearâÄôs Day.

âÄúIâÄôm excited for this opportunity,âÄù Coyle said. âÄúThe three and a half years I spent at Minnesota were priceless in the experience it gave me.âÄù

Coyle served as the assistant athletics director for marketing and sales from 2001 to 2005 and was eventually elevated to associate athletics director for external relations.

âÄúMark is a perfect fit in my mind,âÄù Minnesota athletics director Joel Maturi said. âÄúHe has the right values, integrity and knowledge to continue the success theyâÄôve had.âÄù

While at Minnesota, Coyle and his marketing team earned Big Ten marketing staff of the year honors in 2003-04.

When Coyle was at Minnesota, the Gophers still played their football games at the Metrodome.

âÄúWe gave out gold T-shirts to the students,âÄù Coyle said. âÄúWe really wanted to create an unprecedented atmosphere not just for the players, but for the fans.âÄù

He was an important figure in reaching a deal with Learfield Communications as well, which has taken over corporate sponsorship, signage and radio broadcasting for Gophers athletics since the early 2000s.

âÄúIn the past, we did it all in-house,âÄù Maturi said. âÄúBut none of us were experts, so Learfield has taken over and been one of the real positive partnerships that weâÄôve established.âÄù

MinnesotaâÄôs athletics department generates more than $6 million a year from its deal with Learfield, Maturi said.

Since 2005, Coyle has worked at the University of Kentucky as associate athletics director for fundraising and development and most recently as deputy director of athletics.

âÄú[Boise State] really looked at my time at Minnesota and Kentucky and saw my extensive background in the external side of things âÄî marketing, fundraising and media relations,âÄù Coyle said.

At Boise State, Coyle will inherit a football program that has just been accepted to the Big East, giving him a little more financial room to work with.

His new contract will pay him $325,000 annually over the next five years with multiple incentives.

He is set to receive a one-time, $75,000 bonus Feb. 3, 2012. His buyout is $700,000 for the first three years and he receives a bowl bonus of $20,000-$30,000 for reaching a BCS game.

Coyle will be the fourth athletics director at Boise State in the 44 years the school has been a four-year institution.

âÄúThe biggest things I take away from Minnesota and Kentucky is their broad-based programs focusing on all the student-athletes,âÄù Coyle said, referring to MinnesotaâÄôs 25 varsity sports and KentuckyâÄôs SEC-leading 22.

âÄúMark has a passion for athletics, an understanding of the business side and yet a commitment to the academics,âÄù Maturi said. âÄúItâÄôs a balance that is needed today in college sports but is not always well-received.âÄù