Mavericks football coach booked in child porn case

EAGLE LAKE, MINN. (AP) - The head football coach at Minnesota State, Mankato, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of child pornography, sheriff’s officials said.

Todd Hoffner, 46, was in custody on suspicion of using underage people in a sexual performance and possession of child pornography, Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Capt. Rich Murry told the Mankato Free Press (http://bit.ly/RAygjY).

Hoffner had not been formally charged by Tuesday evening, and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney. His home phone number was disconnected.

Messages left for sheriff’s officials and prosecutors were not immediately returned to The Associated Press.

Hoffner was escorted off the football practice field Friday and has been on leave from his coaching position since then, the university said in a statement. Spokesman Dan Benson added that a university investigation is pending.

“The University is not aware of any allegations affecting university students or program participants,” Benson said in the statement.

Hoffner is in his fifth year as Minnesota State, Mankato’s head football coach. He led the team to the playoffs in 2008 and 2009, and a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title in 2011.

He has a 34-13 record at Minnesota State, Mankato, and was named NSIC coach of the year in 2009. He was previously the offensive coordinator at the University of South Dakota.

He is married and has three children.

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