Former UW-Eau Claire football coach arrested on child porn charges

Former UW-Eau Claire football coach Todd Hoffner is under arrest in southern Minnesota for allegedly creating and possessing child pornography.

The 46-year-old Hoffner is on leave from his current head coaching position at Minnesota State-Mankato. Blue Earth County sheriff’s deputies said he’s suspected of using underage people in a sexual performance and possessing child porn.

Charges were not filed as of Wednesday evening. The university says it’s conducting its own investigation. It says it’s not aware that any Minnesota State athletes or students were involved.

Hoffner, who’s married with three children, was escorted off the field while conducting practice last Friday. He’s in his fifth year as Mankato’s coach. He led the team to the playoffs in 2008 and ’09, plus a share of its league title a year ago.

Hoffner coached at Eau Claire from 1999 through 2005. His Blugold teams went 29-20.

Badgers lose a basketball prospect

The Wisconsin men’s basketball team has lost out on one of its main recruiting targets for next fall. Forward Sam Ojeleye of Ottawa, Kan., told Rivals.Com that he’s down to four choices among the numerous schools recruiting him – Duke, Stanford, Oregon and Indiana.

The Wisconsin State Journal said Bo Ryan’s coaching staff had been recruiting the 6-6 Ojeleye for about the last two years. The Badgers were among schools he was considered before he narrowed it down to four.

Wisconsin has three known verbal commitments for next fall – guard Bronson Koenig of La Crosse Aquinas, guard Jordan Hill of Pasadena, Calif., and guard-forward Riley Dearring of Minnetonka, Minn.

The paper said two more scholarships are available for Ryan’s class of 2013.

Tags: crime and courts, sports, wisconsin