Minnesota coach Jerry Kill and the university announced Thursday that he will be taking time off for treatment of his epilepsy.
Kill had a seizure last Saturday morning and was unable to coach the team in its game against Michigan.
Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys, who's been on Kill's staff for 19 seasons, will be the team's acting head coach.
The Gophers are off this week and play Oct. 19 at Northwestern.
"My wife Rebecca, myself and our two daughters want to thank everyone for their prayers and concerns during the last few weeks," Kill said in a statement. "This was a difficult decision to make, but the right decision. Our staff has been together a long time and I have full confidence in Coach Claeys and them during my time away. Every decision that will be made will be in the best interest of the players and the program. I look forward to returning to the Minnesota sideline on a full-time basis soon."
Athletic director Norwood Teague offered his support.
"Coach Kill will remain in very close contact with the team and his staff and provide direction and support as needed," Teague said in a statement. "Our support for Coach Kill is unwavering and we look forward to his return to full-time coaching duties.
"This is a great group of student-athletes under the guidance of one of the longest-tenured and most respected staffs in college football, and there is no doubt in my mind that they will continue to move this program forward and make us proud."
Minnesota is 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten, losing its last two games to Iowa and Michigan.
ACADEMIES CAN PLAY FOR NOW
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has decided that football games and other sports will go on at the military service academies this weekend, and continue through the end of the month, despite the government shutdown.
Col. Steve Warren, Pentagon spokesman, says that Hagel will reassess the issue later this month if Congress has still not passed a budget to fund the federal government.
Warren says that Hagel consulted with Pentagon lawyers and military leaders. He says the academies could have faced fines if the games were canceled.
Last week the Pentagon allowed the academies to play their weekend games, but officials were not sure future games would go on.
The games are largely paid for with funds that come from outside sources and are not approved through Congress.
EX-PLAYERS FACE COURT-MARTIAL
Two midshipman will face a court-martial in an alleged sexual assault at an off-campus party while a third will not, the U.S. Naval Academy superintendent said Thursday. All three midshipmen were former Navy football players.
Vice Adm. Michael Miller referred the cases of Midshipmen Eric Graham, of Eight Mile, Ala., and Joshua Tate, of Nashville, Tenn., to court-martial, but decided Midshipman Tra'ves Bush, of Johnston, S.C., should not face one.
"We are committed to a thorough and fair conduct system and investigative process, and the Naval Academy will meet the highest standards, operate consistent with the law, and expeditiously investigate every report of unwanted sexual contact, sexual harassment and sexual assault," the academy said in a statement announcing the superintendent's decision.
Graham is charged with abusive sexual contact. Tate is charged with aggravated sexual assault. Both midshipmen also are accused of making false official statements.
Graham was a former cornerback at Navy, while Tate was an outside linebacker. Bush played safety.
The case has drawn attention at a time when the White House, Congress and the Pentagon are focusing on sexual assaults in the military. The alleged assault happened at an alcohol-fueled party in April 2012 at an off-campus house used by football team members.
The alleged victim is a fellow midshipman who was drinking that night and she has said she doesn't remember having sex. She said she heard about the allegations after the party from others.
The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual assault.
The decision comes after an Article 32 hearing, the civilian equivalent of a preliminary hearing, in which the alleged victim underwent more than 30 hours of cross-examination this fall by three defense teams. She faced graphic questions about sexual acts and her attorney criticized the process.
Within days of the "Toga and Yoga" party, during which men wore togas and women wore yoga pants, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service began looking into the allegations. The alleged victim initially did not want to pursue charges. During the Article 32 hearing, defense attorneys played a recording of a phone call in which she asked one of the defendants not to cooperate with investigators.
The case was closed in November 2012, but reopened in January, when the alleged victim began cooperating.
Contributors: Ken Bradley, The Associated Press