Minnesota Vikings Name New Special Teams Coordinator

A long time member of the Vikings' organization has been promoted to the special teams coordinator.

Ryan Ficken has been with the Minnesota Vikings for 14 years and has spent the previous 8 seasons as the assistant special teams coordinator, and he's now been promoted to special teams coordinator replacing Marwan Maalouf after his contract was not renewed. Ficken also spent a few seasons as the Vikings assistant wide receivers coach, and a couple seasons as the assistant running backs coach.

Special teams was a large problem for the Minnesota Vikings last season, the team ranked last in the league in both field goal percentage (68.2) and punt return average (4.3). On top of that, the team allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown, a pair of blocked punts, had 11 total penalties called on special teams.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

In an announcement about the coaching decision the Vikings said, "Ficken brings plenty of energy and experience to the role, as he had a big hand in the Vikings run of success on special teams in previous seasons."

The Vikings are also hired a new strength and conditioning coach, Josh Hingst will come to Minnesota from the Philadelphia Eagles, he's been their strength and conditioning coach since 2013. Before the Eagles Hingst worked for Jacksonville and for Nebraska before that.