After four losing seasons under head coach Ben Johnson, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s basketball team is looking to turn things around. Johnson’s firing has paved the way for the hiring of Niko Medved as the next head coach of the team.
During Johnson’s tenure, the team failed to make any NCAA Tournament appearances and had the worst winning percentage of any coach in school history. The decision to bring in Medved, who currently coaches at Colorado State, signifies a new direction for the program.
Medved, who has had success at Colorado State with multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, is a Minneapolis native and has deep connections to the Minnesota basketball community. It is believed that athletic director Mark Coyle had already identified Medved as the ideal candidate to lead the Golden Gophers before Johnson’s dismissal.
The decision to retain assistant coach Dave Thorson, a close friend of Medved, also signals a new era for the program. With a fresh coaching staff in place, the team is hopeful for a brighter future and a return to the NCAA Tournament.
This hiring decision comes after months of speculation, with many expecting Johnson to receive a fifth season before his sudden dismissal. It appears that Coyle had a plan in place all along, and the swift hiring of Medved demonstrates the university’s commitment to revitalizing the men’s basketball program.
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