University of Minnesota men's basketball coach Clem Haskins once signed a glowing letter of recommendation for the woman who now says she did course work for players on his team.

The Oct. 2, 1995 letter praised former university employee Jan Gangelhoff for her efforts as a mentor to students and her ability to perform "above what is required of her."

"From my personal experience and reports from others who have known her longer, she has a unique ability to help young people realize their potential," according to the letter, written to help Gangelhoff gain entrance to the Master of Liberal Studies program.

Gangelhoff told the Pioneer Press last week that she did an estimated 400 pieces of course work, including term papers, for at least 20 players from 1993 to 1998. At the time of the letter, Gangelhoff was employed as an office manager in the academic counseling unit and was not permitted under its rules to work with basketball players. She said she believes Haskins knew of her activities.

The letter signed by Haskins praises Gangelhoff's work with students in general. It does not indicate whether any of those students were members of the men's basketball team or other athletes. Nonetheless, the letter seems to indicate that Haskins was familiar with Gangelhoff and some of her activities on behalf of university students.

Haskins, who did not return repeated phone calls last week, has said through university Vice President McKinley Boston that he didn't know Gangelhoff was tutoring players. Athletic Director Mark Dienhart also declined to comment.

Gangelhoff, reached Friday, acknowledged that the letter was written on her behalf. She said she asked Alonzo Newby, the academic counselor for men's basketball, to write her a letter of recommendation but that he suggested it come from Haskins.

According to Gangelhoff, Newby suggested the letter would be stronger coming from someone like Haskins.

"Alonzo said something like: `How about if I write something up and coach signs it?' " Gangelhoff said.

Newby declined to comment through his lawyer, Ron Rosenbaum.

The letter is dated less than two months before Gangelhoff says she accompanied the men's Gopher basketball team on a trip to Hawaii at the university's expense. School officials have neither denied nor confirmed that she made the trip.

Gangelhoff said she began doing course work for players in the summer of 1993. After leaving her job as office manager in January 1998, she was hired to tutor for one quarter. Only during that time was she authorized by the academic counseling office to work with student athletes.

After seeking the letter of recommendation, Gangelhoff said she dropped her plans to seek a master's degree in liberal studies and did not submit an application.

Jo Ellen Lundblad, coordinator of the program, said applicants must provide at least two reference letters. Most come from co-workers, supervisors or former professors, she said. "Anyone who can address your brilliance," she added.

Lundblad would neither confirm nor deny that the Haskins letter was received. She added that a letter of recommendation from a coach would be unusual. "But if that has been her employer and he knows of her abilities, we would accept that," she added.

Gangelhoff said Newby told her the original letter signed by Haskins was sent to the program in a sealed envelope. She said Newby gave her a copy.

"I never saw the original because I believe the original had to go directly to the program separate from the other application materials," Gangelhoff said. That's a common procedure with such applications.

Gangelhoff considered an advanced degree after receiving her bachelor's degree from the university's InterCollege Program (ICP) in August 1995. She said she also asked a former co-worker in the public health school to write a letter of recommendation, but later decided not to seek the degree.

"One of the reasons was that the program did not have a lot of courses in the area I wanted to study," Gangelhoff said. "But the main reason was that I didn't have a lot of free time. I was working (in the academic counseling unit) and taking care of my family."

Elayne Donahue, Gangelhoff's boss in academic counseling when the letter was written, said she was surprised Haskins had signed the letter of recommendation.

"The best place to get a recommendation for graduate school would be from someone in academics," Donahue said. "To get a recommendation from a coach seems absurd."

The letter states that one of Gangelhoff's strengths is "the ability to work effectively with differing personalities" and that "her reputation among students is such that they frequently seek her out."

The letter closes with the comment, "I recommend her without reservation" and gives a phone number in the men's basketball office.