Minnesota fired basketball coach Ben Johnson early Thursday morning following the Golden Gophers‘ 72-64 loss to Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Why did the Gophers fire Johnson, who will receive $2.92 million due to his contract buyout agreement, and who may replace him?
Johnson finished his fourth year at his alma mater with a 15-17 record, marking the third time during his tenure the Gophers have posted a sub .500 record. The 15 wins were four fewer than the Gophers recorded in 2023-24.
Why Minnesota Dismissed Ben Johnson and Analyzing Who Could Be The Next Gopher Coach?
Minnesota, which had lots of roster turnover last summer, ranked in the bottom 130 of the nation in offensive and defensive efficiency. More specifically, the Gophers were 317th in scoring at 68.1 points a game as they were one of the worst shooting teams in the country, which included ranking 337th in free throw percentage.
Defensively, Minnesota ranked 107th in scoring, holding opponents to 69.7 points a game. But that number is a little deceiving, as the Gophers’ defensive rating of over 107 demonstrates. Dawson Garcia led the way for the Gophers with 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
Former Head Coach Ben Johnson Is Praised
” Ben is a terrific person, and we wish him well, Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle said in his statement revealing Johnson’s termination. These decisions are difficult and are made after careful consideration and evaluation. Our program expects to compete for championships, and unfortunately, we have not done that in the last four years.
“This is an extremely desirable job in one of the best conferences and cities in the nation, and we fully expect to compete at the highest level on and off the court. We provide a world-class experience for our student-athletes, have one of the best practice facilities in the nation, and play games in a historic venue. We offer everything that is needed to be successful, and we will immediately begin a nationwide search for our next men’s basketball coach.”
Johnson never hit 20 wins in a season or made the NCAA tournament with Minnesota. Johnson went 56-71 overall, including 22-57 in Big Ten play. The Gophers have not reached the NCAA tournament since 2019-20, posting one winning campaign during these six years. They did participate in the 2024 NIT, reaching the second round.
Johnson Continued
While Johnson’s 2 a.m. firing was “ruthless,” as one source put it, it wasn’t a total shock. Here is more on Johnson’s firing from ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.
“Johnson’s perceived job status has ebbed and flowed throughout the season, but the word coming out of the program in recent weeks was that he was likely to return for a fifth season, with changes to his coaching staff and increased support from an NIL perspective. A road sweep of the Los Angeles schools in mid-February seemed to solidify his position, but the Gophers lost four of five to end the regular season and then had a fairly listless second half in the Big Ten tournament loss to Northwestern.”
Prospectives For Next Gophers Coach
Coyle said Minnesota has already started a national search for a coach. Whoever the Gophers hire, he will have a total rebuild in year one—though, with how college basketball operates these days, that is not surprising. The Gophers lose nine seniors, including Garcia, though Johnson did sign three 2025 recruits: Kai Shinholster, Jacob Ross, and Parker Jefferson. So, will have to see what those trio decide to do in the coming months.
Also, Dylan Callaghan-Crolly of Rivals that redshirt 6-2 senior point guard Tyler Cochran has entered the transfer portal. Cochran, who transferred from Toledo, never played for the Gophers after suffering a foot injury in the preseason.
Despite Coyle’s desire for Minnesota to be one of the top programs in the Big Ten going forward, the Golden Gophers have a long way to go. According to reports, Minnesota ranked in the bottom two or three in the Big Ten in NIL resources for the duration of Johnson’s tenure.
“The school simply doesn’t have the salary cap most of the rest of the Big Ten has, putting it at a disadvantage when it comes to retaining talent,” Borzello added. “The talk of increasing the NIL support in a revenue-sharing era should give the new head coach some optimism, but Minnesota remains some distance from the top of the league.”
On Friday, Coyle officially spoke about firing Johnson via X for the first time: “Ben (Johnson) and that staff gave us everything they had… he worked endless hours, he did everything he could to make us competitive.”
Minnesota’s all-time winning percentage is .576 since its first basketball season in 1896. The Golden Gophers have won just three Big Ten regular season titles since 1938, the last in 1997, and no Big Ten Conference titles. The Gophers have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, going 14-14 and reached the Final Four in 1997.
Golden Gophers Prospective
Minnesota’s 2025 recruiting class ranks 45th nationally, according to 247Sports. Shinsholster, Ross, and Jefferson are all three-star recruits. Recruiting and development have been part of Johnson’s problem. Since returning to Minnesota prior to the 2021-22 season, the Gophers have produced two NBA players: Cam Christie and Jamison Battle. Christie played one season for Johnson before being selected in the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Johnson’s best recruiting class could be the one he won’t coach (2025). Johnson’s other recruiting classes never ranked higher than No. 62. Christie and Pharrell Payne, who is playing at Texas A&M, are the only two four-star players to play for Johnson. Besides his first season, he didn’t do very well in the transfer portal.
“Sometimes we’re fourth or fifth in the market, and we see that as a huge advantage,” Coyle told The Athletic last year. “We tell kids, ‘When you come to Minnesota if you want to go to a Minnesota Lynx game, go to a Minnesota Lynx game. It’s five minutes from our campus. If you want to go see the Timberwolves play, if you want to go see the Minnesota United, if you want to see the Twins, the Wild, whatever it may be, you can go do those things.’ And we sell it.”
Candidates For Minnesota Golden Gophers Head Coaching Positions
Over 20 names have been mentioned as possible suitors for Minnesota. Here is a breakdown of the more realistic candidates based on what Coyle has recently said. Coyle, a member of the NCAA tournament selection committee, talked about getting the Golden Gophers back to being regular NCAA tournament participants.
“That’s addicting. You want to get back to that experience,” Coyle said Friday. “That’s why this is such a critical hire for our department as we move forward. How can we find someone to get us back to the NCAA tournament? We have 38 opportunities to get to the NCAA tournament. There are 37 at-large spots and one [automatic qualifier] for the Big Ten if you win the conference tournament. … In my heart, there’s no doubt Minnesota can be one of those 38 teams.”
“We need somebody who embraces Minnesota… we need somebody who’s going to generate excitement, Coyle added earlier today via X.
When Could Minnesota Golden Gophers Select A Coach?
When could Coyle hire a new coach? Marcus Fuller of The Star-Tribune suggested that he may wait until later in the month when some of the potential candidates’ teams are eliminated in the NCAA tournament like he did when he hired Dawn Plitzuweit as the Gophers women’s basketball coach prior to the 2023-24 season.
I always try to be respectful to coaches who are coaching in the postseason,” Coyle told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Thursday. “Once Dawn finished her season with West Virginia, then we had pretty intense conversations with her and named her our head coach a day or two after that game.”
Minnesota has not hired a firm to help with its search. Coyle said that Johnson’s top assistant coach, Dave Thorson, will run the program for now, while director of basketball Ryan Livingston will also remain on staff until the new coach is chosen.
“With the timing of the search, obviously, we want to be very efficient and move quickly,” Coyle continued when asked about the hire timing. “Because of the transfer portal and because of the collective NIL and institutional NIL. We want to have those conversations quickly.”
Niko Medved, Colorado State HC
Niko Medved is a fantastic candidate to take over the Golden Gopher program. Medved, a Roseville (MN) native, graduated from Minnesota, where he served as a student assistant under Gopher legend Clem Haskins. The 51-year-old returned to Minnesota as an assistant in 2006-07 on Dan Monson’s staff.
Medved is in his seventh season as Colorado State’s head coach and 12th overall. He has led CSU to five 20-win seasons, including 2024-25, and could possibly head to the NCAA tournament for a third time with the Rams. He has a 140-84 record at CSU and 219-172 overall, with stops at Furman and Drake.
More on Medved
Medved is under contract with Colorado State through 2031-32. Medved made $1.7 million this year and has a $4 million buyout. He is known more as an offensive coach, with the Rams ranking in the top 100 in offensive efficiency since Medved took over the program.
“There might not be a candidate that makes more sense than Colorado State’s Medved, Liebert wrote on Thursday . ” A Minneapolis native and graduate of the University of Minnesota has 12 years of head coaching experience after being a Gophers assistant from 2006-07. He has built the Rams into one of the most consistent programs in the Mountain West with two NCAA Tournament appearances.”
An interesting note is that Medved and Thorson worked together at both Drake and Colorado State.
Brian Dutcher, San Diego State HC
Brian Dutcher is also a fantastic candidate. Dutcher attended Minnesota, where his father, Jim Dutcher, was a coach with the Gophers. The 65-year-old has been a head coach at San Diego State for eight seasons, posting a 198-67 record. Known as a defensive coach, Dutcher’s Aztec teams have been among the best in the nation during his tenure. He has guided the Aztecs to five NCAA tournaments, winning seven games and reaching the Final Four in 2023.
Here is more from Liebert: “San Diego State’s Dutcher is a name that will be floated around a lot. His father, Jim Dutcher, was the Gophers head coach from 1975-86, and Brian has said many times how highly he respects the Minnesota job. He signed a contract extension with the Aztecs last March that sets his buyout at $10.2 million, but it was previously reported that his last deal had an amendment that would lower that considerably if the Gophers called. There have been rumors that this is not included in his new deal.”
Dave Joerger, Milwaukee Bucks Assistant
Dave Joerger is from Staples (MN) and played college basketball in the state. The 51-year-old, who has been an NBA assistant since 2007, has spent a good part of his professional career in the northern parts of the Midwest. He is known as a defensive coach who compiled a 245-247 record in six NBA seasons and made the playoffs three times.
Ryan Saunders, Denver Nuggets Assistant
Ryan Saunders, the son of the late Flip Saunders, was an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves for several seasons before taking over for his father in 2018-19. Saunders, a native of Medina (MN), is also a former Gopher walk-on and graduate manager under Tubby Smith; The 38-year-old posted a 43-94 in his lone head coaching experience over three seasons with the Timberwolves.
“Saunders would be a popular hire among some Minnesota fans, but does he even have interest in coaching the college game?” Callaghan-Croley wrote. “Like the NFL and college football, the lifestyle difference between college basketball and the NBA is significant. Would such a drastic change appeal to Saunders and his family? That remains to be seen. It’s probably worth gauging his interest, but as of now, it’s hard to envision Saunders returning to Minneapolis to coach the Gophers.”
Darian DeVries, West Virginia HC
Darian DeVries, who will turn 50 next month, could be one and down at West Virginia as he is a potential fit for multiple openings. DeVries led WVU to a 19-13 record this year, though the Mountaineers were upset by Colorado in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Before landing in Morgantown, DeVries captained Drake to three NCAA tournament appearances and a 150-55 record in six years. DeVries is also considered a candidate for the now-vacant Iowa job. Schuyler Callihan of Sports Illustrated believes that it will cost a school at least $3.5 million to pry DeVries from Iowa.
Porter Moser, Oklahoma HC
Porter Moser has led Oklahoma to back-to-back 20-win seasons and has the Sooners in position to earn an NCAA bid for the first time in his four seasons at the school. The Sooners are 20-13 on the season, but they went 6-12 in their first season in the SEC. The Sooners were eliminated by Kentucky in the second round of the SEC tournament.
Moser owns a 367-300 in 21 seasons as head coach. However, the 56-year-old has only made two NCAA tournament appearances and three regular-season crowns. He did lead Loyola-Chicago to a Final Four berth in 2018.
Moser is making $3.2 million and has a $8.3 million buyout.
“The former Loyola Chicago coach made one of the most memorable Cinderella runs in the NCAA tourney when he took the Ramblers to the Final Four with Sister Jean on board in 2018, ” said Fuller. “He also went to the Sweet 16 three years later before jumping to the Sooners, who have been to the NIT once in his first three years.”
Ross Hodge, North Texas HC
Ross Hodge has a 42-22 record in his two seasons at North Texas, including 23-7 this year. The 44-year-old has been a collegiate basketball coach since entering the scene in 2003 and spent five campaigns as a junior college head coach.
Brian Wardle, Bradley HC
Brian Wardle is a two-time Coach of the Year with a 279-211 record. The 45-year-old has won 20 games eight times, including each of the last three years. He has led Green Bay and Bradley to two regular season titles and two conference title crowns. However, he has only been to one NCAA tournament and is 1-6 in six postseason appearances.
Eric Henderson, South Dakota State HC
Eric Henderson is in his sixth season at South Dakota State where he has guided the Jackrabbits to a 129-60 record. Henderson has guided the Jackrabitts to four, 20-win campaigns, and two NCAA tournament berths. The 46-year-od Nebraska native, who has spent his entire coaching career in the midwest, also has won four conference crowns and two conference tourney titles.
Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa HC
Ben Jacobson has led Northern Iowa since 2006-07, compiling a 374-245 record. The 54-year-old, who is a five-time MVC COY, has led the Panthers to four regular and four conference titles. He is also 10-8 in the NCAA postseason, including 4-4 in four NCAA tournament appearances.
Drew Valentine, Loyola- Chicago HC
Drew Valentine is the youngest on the list at 34. But Valentine finished his fourth season at Loyola-Chicago, finishing with 20 wins for the third time and second since the school moved to the A-10. He is 79-49 overall, with one regular season crown and one conference tourney title.
Bryce Drew, Grand Canyon HC
Bryce Drew is a three-time conference Coach of the Year. The 50-year-old is in their fifth season at Grand Canyon, posting four 20-win seasons. He is 114-38 at GCU and owns a career record of 278-146 with 11 total conference titles.
Other Coaching Candidates:
Alan Huss, High Point HC
Will Wade, McNeese HC
Bryce Drew, Grand Canyon
Anthony Grant, Dayton HC
Craig Smith, Former Utah HC
Ben McCollum, Drake HC
John Tauer, St. Thomas HC
Kimani Young, UConn Assistant Coach
Eric Mussleman, USC Trojans HC
Sean Sweeney, Dallas Maverick Assistant Coach
Bobby Jackson, Philadelphia 76ers Assistant Coach
Who Is The Leading Candidates For The Minnesota Golden Gopher Job
It is very early in the process, and it is really unknown what direction Minnesota wants to take. The Gopher job is not good right now. Can the Gophers get the program right? It is hard to tell, and there is a lot of work that needs to be done.
Here is who should be on top of Minnesota’s wish list: 1. Niko Medved, 2. Ben Jacobsen, 3. Bryce Drew 4. Drew Valentine 5. Eric Henderson 6. Brian Wardle 7. John Tauer, 8. Bobby Jackson, 9. Sean Sweeney 1o. Ryan Saunders.
Photo Credit Courtesy of © Robert Goddin, Imagn Images
