Gutekunst Rejoins ECU Football Staff As Defensive Analyst
October 10, 2017 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. – John Gutekunst (pronounced GOOD-uh-kunst) has joined the ECU football staff as a defensive analyst according to an announcement by Pirate head coach Scottie Montgomery on Tuesday.
His appointment to Montgomery's staff marks his second position at ECU after serving as a special teams assistant under Skip Holtz in 2009. A veteran coach with nearly 50 years of experience, which includes a six-year stint guiding the Minnesota program, Gutekunst helped the Pirates capture a Conference USA championship that season while filling in for the late Rock Roggeman, who was on indefinite medical leave at the time.
Gutekunst spent two years at Columbia (N.Y.) University as defensive backs coach before helping North Carolina A&T as inside linebackers coach in 2013 after his departure from ECU.
Prior to his first arrival in Greenville, he served on the Duke staff as a secondary coach in 2007 after previous collegiate positions at North Carolina (2004-06), South Carolina (1999-03), Rhode Island (1998), Rutgers (1994-95), South Carolina (1993), Wake Forest (1992), Minnesota (1984-91), Virginia Tech (1979-83) and Duke (1967-78).
After serving as Lou Holtz' defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Minnesota during the 1984 and 1985 regular season campaigns, Gutekunst was elevated to the head coaching position and led the Gophers to a 20-13 triumph over Clemson in the 1985 Independence Bowl. A year later he guided UM to a Liberty Bowl appearance in a season that was highlighted by a 20-17 upset victory over then second-ranked and previously unbeaten Michigan.
In addition to Minnesota, he also held defensive coordinator titles for two years at Rutgers and for one season at North Carolina.Â
While an undergraduate at Duke, Gutekunst lettered on the gridiron from 1963-65 under Hall of Fame head coach Bill Murray and served as a senior team captain. He also earned three varsity letters on the baseball diamond from 1964-66.
His appointment to Montgomery's staff marks his second position at ECU after serving as a special teams assistant under Skip Holtz in 2009. A veteran coach with nearly 50 years of experience, which includes a six-year stint guiding the Minnesota program, Gutekunst helped the Pirates capture a Conference USA championship that season while filling in for the late Rock Roggeman, who was on indefinite medical leave at the time.
Gutekunst spent two years at Columbia (N.Y.) University as defensive backs coach before helping North Carolina A&T as inside linebackers coach in 2013 after his departure from ECU.
Prior to his first arrival in Greenville, he served on the Duke staff as a secondary coach in 2007 after previous collegiate positions at North Carolina (2004-06), South Carolina (1999-03), Rhode Island (1998), Rutgers (1994-95), South Carolina (1993), Wake Forest (1992), Minnesota (1984-91), Virginia Tech (1979-83) and Duke (1967-78).
After serving as Lou Holtz' defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Minnesota during the 1984 and 1985 regular season campaigns, Gutekunst was elevated to the head coaching position and led the Gophers to a 20-13 triumph over Clemson in the 1985 Independence Bowl. A year later he guided UM to a Liberty Bowl appearance in a season that was highlighted by a 20-17 upset victory over then second-ranked and previously unbeaten Michigan.
In addition to Minnesota, he also held defensive coordinator titles for two years at Rutgers and for one season at North Carolina.Â
While an undergraduate at Duke, Gutekunst lettered on the gridiron from 1963-65 under Hall of Fame head coach Bill Murray and served as a senior team captain. He also earned three varsity letters on the baseball diamond from 1964-66.
ECU Post-Game Interviews (Sept. 20, 2025)
Sunday, September 21
09/16/25 Inside Pirate Athletics
Tuesday, September 16
ECU Head Football Coach Blake Harrell Weekly Press Conference (Sept. 15, 2025)
Monday, September 15
9/09/25 Inside Pirate Athletics
Tuesday, September 09
