Two days after Herb Hand left his spot as Penn State’s offensive line coach for the same position at Auburn, the program announced its replacement. Pittsburgh native Matthew Limegrover, Minnesota’s former assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and offensive line coach, had a few interviews at Penn State this week as reported by Andy Greder. Limegrover was fired in November by new Minnesota coach Tracy Claeys.

The University of Chicago alumnus improved Minnesota’s offense immensely in his time there, averaging 10 more points per game in 2015 than in 2011, his first season. 2014 also saw the first Golden Gophers on the conference First Team since 2009 — tight end Maxx Williams and offensive lineman Zach Epping.

Limegrover played offensive tackle at Chicago for four years, then coached there for four years as a positional coach, then offensive coordinator, and ultimately interim head coach before moving on to Northwestern, where he got his Master’s while coaching as a graduate assistant and going to the Citrus Bowl and Rose Bowl. He had stints at Ferris State, Emporia State, Southern Illinois, and Northern Illinois before landing at Minnesota. His career has mostly been spent as an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator.

Herb Hand was with James Franklin since 2011 at Vanderbilt and followed him to Penn State, where he served as offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Limegrover’s offensive coordinator experience should translate to the run game, if that’s the direction Franklin takes with this addition.

It looks like Penn State picked up an experienced and intelligent coach to fill Hand’s void as a crucial recruiting class enters in 2016. Welcome aboard, Coach Limegrover!