Minnesota Golden Gophers Safety Koi Perich Parents George and Danielle Both Were Star Athletes at Valley City State University During Their College Years

Perich was one of five national finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award!

January 4, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on January 4, 2026

American football safety for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Koi Perich, comes from an athletic family, with both his parents having a sports background.

Perich recently announced that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal now that it is open.

He is known as a key defensive player and has been a standout safety at Minnesota.

Hailing from Esko, Minnesota, Perich has had record-setting seasons, contributing significantly on defense and overall for the team.

Even after entering the transfer portal, Perich has not ruled out returning to the Golden Gophers.

American College Football Safety Koi Perich Athletic Parents: George and Danielle Perich!

Born on September 26, 2005, in Esko, Minnesota, USA, Koi was one of the two sons of George and Danielle.

His parents, George and Danielle Perich, were college athletes at Valley City State University in North Dakota.

Koi’s father, George, played college football as a cornerback and remained active in football for the college years only.

However, he stayed active in sports after college and pursued competitive jiu‑jitsu as an adult.

On the other hand, his mother, Danielle, was a star athlete at Valley City State University, earning All‑America honors in basketball and multiple All‑America honors in track and field.

Danielle has also been active in community and school support groups, like the “Bad Moms Club,” showing her involvement beyond just athletics.

Not just Koi’s parents, his grandfather Don was a competitive powerlifter, and his aunt Gina was a top high school track and basketball athlete.

With athleticism running in the family for generations, Koi received support and guidance for his football career from the very beginning.

Therefore, Koi often credits his parents and family for allowing him to make his own decisions and for supporting his football journey.

In Case You Don’t Know

• Koi Peric has an older brother, Mason Perich, who plays football at the collegiate level as a wide receiver for Minnesota State University, Mankato.
• Koi became the only freshman in FBS since 1976 to record more than 100 punt return yards, more than 100 kickoff return yards, and five interceptions in the same season.
• Perich was named a Freshman All‑American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and also received Sporting News Second Team All‑American honors as a freshman, becoming the first Minnesota freshman All‑American since 1972.

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• Koi Perich

Nishan Dahal writes sports with a human touch, covering breaking news, athlete lives, and the stories that stats can't tell. Nishan believes every athlete has a story worth telling. With the goal of bringing those stories to life with honesty, heart, and a touch of curiosity, he shares his insights through PlayerBio.

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