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ties and lead the Beavers through the final two weeks of spring practice, the school said Tuesday night.
• Thomas, a native of Palmdale, Calif., who played four seasons at the University of South Dakota, was hired in February by Hoffner, a former offensive coordinator at USD. Thomas came to Minot State after a year as the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Culver-Stockton College in Missouri and one season each at Texas A&M and South Florida.
• Along with his defensive coordinator duties, Thomas was an integral part of Minot State's recruiting efforts over the past two months, the school said in a statement.
• Minot State athletic director Rick Hedberg on Tuesday said the school would move forward quickly to find a permanent replacement for Hoffner, whose contract with MSU did not block him from leaving.
• Most of Minot State's players assembled in their MSU Dome locker room Tuesday to watch a live video stream of Hoffner's announcement.
• "A lot of emotions were running through everybody's head at that moment," two-year starting quarterback Zac Cunha told the Minot Daily News. "It was unfortunate that happened.
• "It's his decision and I respect that," Cunha said. "He did what's best for his family. Now we can start moving forward."
• Hoffner said Tuesday that he would be "forever grateful" to Minot State for hiring him when he thought he might never coach again.
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• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- A Rapid City man who authorities say used his 2-year-old daughter as a shield to avoid arrest has been sentenced to serve 20 years in prison.
• Prosecutors say 37-year-old Virgil Bald Eagle kept two women inside an apartment late last year and held his young daughter against the door, telling police not to kick it down or they would hurt her.
• Officers were able to arrest Bald Eagle with no one getting hurt.
• He was sentenced Tuesday on convictions for kidnapping and assaulting officers.
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