In a homecoming move that’s sending ripples through college basketball, Minnesota alumnus Niko Medved is set to take the reins as the Golden Gophers’ next men’s basketball coach. CBS Sports reporter Matt Norlander broke the news Monday with sources confirming the hire.
Medved leaves Colorado State at the peak of his success, having just led the Rams to a Mountain West Tournament championship on March 15 and a short but lively March Madness appearance that featured an upset over No. 5 seed Memphis before falling to No. 4 seed Maryland on a buzzer-beater.
Niko Medved to Be Named Next Minnesota Coach
Niko Medved’s path to the Minnesota job traces back to his roots as a Gopher. A 1997 Minnesota graduate, he began his coaching career as an assistant there under Dan Monson and Jim Molinari before building his head coaching resume at Furman, Drake, and Colorado State.
BREAKING: Minnesota is hiring Colorado State coach/Minnesota alumnus Niko Medved to be its next men’s basketball coach, sources told @CBSSports.
Press conference will be Tuesday.
Story: https://t.co/v2LtQnq8KI
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 24, 2025
From 2013 to 2017, Medved orchestrated an impressive turnaround at Furman, culminating in a Southern Conference regular-season championship and Coach of the Year honors.
After a one-year stint at Drake, he transformed Colorado State into a perennial Mountain West contender during his seven-year tenure.
Fan reactions to the announcement have been decidedly mixed across both programs. Minnesota supporters have largely celebrated the hire, with one X user declaring it a “home run hire” and another simply stating, “Amazing!”
Meanwhile, Colorado State’s faithful expressed understandable disappointment. “As a Ram fan, I saw the writing on the wall, but it still doesn’t mean this doesn’t hurt,” wrote a user on X. “I hope they hire Ali from within, and we can keep the majority of our key players.”
Others were more pessimistic about Medved’s prospects, with one commenter noting: “He’s joining a Big Ten program with little identity and many outstanding coaches.”
Associate HC Ali Farokhmanesh Frontrunner to Replace Niko Medved
Colorado State associate head coach Ali Farokhmanesh is expected to be a leading candidate to replace Niko Medved, according to The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman.
Farokhmanesh has been a key part of Medved’s staff since their time at Drake in 2017 and is widely regarded as one of the top assistants in college basketball playing a major role in CSU’s success.
Colorado State associate head coach Ali Farokhmanesh will be a frontrunner to replace Niko Medved, source told @TheFieldOf68.
Faroukmanesh has been on Medved’s staff since they were at Drake in 2017.
It’s as big of a no-brainer move as it was for Minnesota to hire Medved.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 24, 2025
Goodman described the move as “a no-brainer,” drawing parallels to Minnesota’s decision to bring in Medved. With his deep ties to the program and strong player relationships, Farokhmanesh offers continuity at a crucial time.
If Colorado State opts for an internal promotion, it could ensure stability while maintaining the culture Medved built.
Colorado State’s Challenges Ahead
Medved inherits a Minnesota program that has struggled to find consistent success in the modern era.
With just four Big Ten titles since 1919, the Golden Gophers have often been overshadowed by conference powerhouses. Medved’s track record of developing talent, including back-to-back Southern Conference Players of the Year at Furman, will be put to the test.
The Big Ten landscape presents formidable challenges, with established coaches like Tom Izzo and Matt Painter commanding respected programs.
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Interestingly, Medved joins a growing trend of former Drake head coaches now in the conference alongside Darian DeVries and Chris McCollum.
Medved’s departure continues a pattern of successful mid-major coaches making the leap to Power Five conferences.
As basketball’s coaching carousel continues spinning, all eyes now turn to Tuesday’s press conference, where Medved is set to make the news official. For Minnesota fans hoping for a return to relevance in the ultra-competitive Big Ten, Medved’s homecoming represents both a nostalgic nod to the past and a promising path forward.
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