Kenan Stadium Tour
• Promoted to assistant head coach in 2005.
• Entering his third season with the Tar Heels and second as the tight ends coach.
• Was the co-defensive coordinator in 2004.
• Was the Minnesota head coach from 1986-91.
• Worked with Lou Holtz at South Carolina from 1999-2003.
John Gutekunst (pronounced GOO-di-kunst) enters his third season with the Tar Heels in 2006. He serves as Carolina's assistant head coach and tight ends coach. Gutekunst coached the linebackers and was the co-defensive coordinator in 2004.
In 2005, Carolina's tight ends caught 27 passes, including All-ACC candidate Jon Hamlett with 21.
Gutkenust came to Carolina after working five seasons as South Carolina's secondary coach under former head coach Lou Holtz. Now coaching in his 38th year overall, Gutekunst has a wealth of experience both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, including a six-year stint as head coach at the University of Minnesota from 1986-91. He also served as defensive coordinator and secondary coach under Holtz at Minnesota during the 1984-85 seasons and was defensive coordinator at Rutgers from 1994-95.
During Gutekunst's five years with the Gamecocks, South Carolina's secondary was consistently among the league's best. In 2001, South Carolina's defense was second in the Southeastern Conference and two of his players earned all-conference honors, including first-team selection Sheldon Brown and second-team pick Andre Goodman. Both players were selected in the 2002 NFL Draft. In 2003, Gutekunst coached Dunta Robinson, an All-SEC cornerback who was selected by Houston with the 10th overall pick of the 2004 draft.
The Gamecock defense ranked near the top of the SEC throughout the entire 2000 season and allowed a league-low five touchdown passes. South Carolina picked off 20 passes, which ranked among the top three in the SEC, and Brown was named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America team. That season, Gutekunst was named the Assistant Coach of the Year by the AFCA.
Gutekunst led Minnesota to four winning seasons in six years as head coach. In 1986, he guided the Gophers to the 1986 Liberty Bowl, a season highlighted by a 20-17 upset win at No. 2 ranked and previously undefeated Michigan. He was also head coach in the Gophers' 20-13 win over Clemson in the 1985 Independence Bowl.
Gutekunst also has coached on defense at Rhode Island, Virginia Tech and Duke. In 1992, he was the secondary coach at Wake Forest under former UNC head coach Bill Dooley.
Prior to joining the Gamecocks' staff, Gutekunst was the secondary and kicking coach at Rhode Island from 1996-98. In 1998, two of his defensive backs ranked among the top three in the conference in interceptions, including Ron Ianotti who had a league-high seven interceptions.
A defensive back at Duke from 1963-66, Gutekunst began his coaching career with the Blue Devils, where he was an assistant from 1967-78. He later coached at Virginia Tech from 1979-83 before joining Holtz at Minnesota. He also coached in the Arena Football League in 1992.
Gutekunst earned his bachelor's degree from Duke in 1966 and was a two-sport standout in football and baseball, serving as team captain in both sports.
A native of Sellersville, Pa., Gutekunst and his wife, Leah, have three children: Brian, Michael and Jon.
