Two of Minnesota’s top higher-education legislators have endorsed a request that the Legislative Auditor look into the process that led to the botched firing of Minnesota State Mankato football coach Todd Hoffner.

On Wednesday, MSM President Richard Davenport and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System Chancellor Steven Rosenstone asked the Legislative Auditor’s office to conduct an independent review of the process that led to Hoffner’s firing for images of his children on his university-issued phone. Child pornography charges were filed, then dropped.

An arbitrator then ruled that Hoffner was wrongly fired and the coach has returned to his job. Mankato players initially refused to practice upon his return, but that kerfluffle was soon resolved.

Thursday, the Legislature’s two Higher Education Chairs — Sen. Terri Bonoff and Rep. Gene Pelowski — added their voices to the request to have  the Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles look into what happened.

Said Bonoff in a statement:

“Given the problematic outcome of these decisions, a thorough analysis and review is appropriate. What happened? Was our process appropriate? What changes are needed? These questions are best answered by the independent Legislative Auditor.”

And Pelowski said:

“The Legislative Auditor will provide us with the information we need to ensure this never happens again.”