Local Insider Floats the “Logical Choice” for Next Gophers MBB Head Coach

The Minnesota Gophers brought in Minneapolis-native Ben Johnson as men’s basketball head coach, after Richard Pitino was fired in 2021. At the time, athletic director Mark Coyle hoped someone with local ties could establish recruiting roots in-state that would keep the best talent home.

That hasn’t come to fruition, mostly due to the change in recruiting landscape and a newfound importance on NIL funding, not relationships. In 97 games as the Gophers’ head coach, Johnson’s 43-54 record (15-44 in the Big Ten) leaves plenty to be desired.

Another “one of us” candidate to replace Ben Johnson?

Remember, Coyle came from Syracuse. He wants to go back to the NCAA Tournament, which is why Ben Johnson is very much on the hot season, in his fourth season as Minnesota head coach. If Johnson doesn’t prove to his athletic director that he is the fastest route back to the March Madness dance floor, then he’ll be out at the end of this season.

In fact, rumors are already starting to float around, regarding who the next Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball coach might be. There are a lot of obvious candidates, all of them overqualified (if we are being honest). Whoever Coyle picks, they’ll have a much better resume than Johnson, including multiple NCAA appearances.

But the most logical candidate, according to a guy VERY deeply rooted in University of Minnesota athletics — Charley Walters (Pioneer Press) — is Colorado State head coach, and Roseville MN native, Niko Medved.

“Colorado State’s Niko Medved from Roseville remains the logical choice if the Gophers men’s basketball program makes a coaching change after the season.”

Charley Walters on the Minnesota basketball head coaching position (Pioneer Press)

Related: Minnesota Gophers HC Ben Johnson Makes Dreaded MBB Hot Seat List

Unlike Johnson, Medved has a sizable track record. This is his 12th year as a collegiate head coach, and he has spent the last seven at Colorado State. After stops at Furman and Drake, Medved took over the Colorado State program and quickly turned it into a winner.

What would Niko Medved bring to the Minnesota Gophers?

Medved has twice taken the Rams to the NCAA Tournament, and had them ranked as high as 13th in the nation last year, before coaching them to their first NCAA Tournament win since 2012, in March.

Colorado State will never be a perennial powerhouse, no matter who coaches there. But only twice since Niko’s arrival, have the Rams failed to win at least 20 games, and they’ve been a near the top of an increasingly stacked Mountain West Conference for a half decade, under his guidance.

The Gophers basketball job will never be the most coveted in the country, but it’s a step up for Medved to work in the Big Ten. He’d have an opportunity to avoid the recruiting and transfer gaffes that have plagued Johnson. An opportunity to turn around his alma mater would also be more than enticing.

Related: First Signs Minnesota MBB Coach Ben Johnson May be on the Hot Seat

In his playing days, Johnson ran point guard for his hometown Gophers, in 59 total games, after transferring back from Northwestern. If he doesn’t start winning more games as a coach, he’ll be transferring back out, and it’s unlikely he will have a lot of head coaching opportunities available.