Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson was relieved of his duties in an unexpected move on Thursday morning.
Johnson, a former Gophers player and Minneapolis native, took over the reins at the club in 2021. However, the Gophers struggled for consistency during his four years in charge, with a 22-57 mark in Big Ten play and a total record of 57-71.
Top 5 Potential Replacements For Ben Johnson
Although the team’s form slightly improved last season, results have not gone as expected this year for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. They suffered an agonizing first-round exit from the Big Ten Tournament after losing 72-64 to 13-seed Northwestern.
Athletics director Mark Coyle explained that the decision to sack the 44-year-old wasn’t an easy one.
#Gophers Coyle: “The expectation for our program is 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… pic.twitter.com/8bt6CAvmBk
— GopherHole.com (@GopherHole) March 13, 2025
“These decisions are difficult and are made after careful consideration and evaluation. The expectation for our program is to compete for championships, and unfortunately, we have not done that in the last four years,” he said in a statement released in the early hours of Thursday.
Minnesota has already begun a nationwide search for a new head coach as it prepares for life after Ben Johnson. The recruitment is expected to focus on candidates with experience and a track record of success at the collegiate level.
Here are five candidates that could fill Johnson’s vacancy.
1. Anthony Grant, Dayton
Dayton coach Anthony Grant is the first name on this list. The 58-year-old is in his eighth season leading his alma mater and has an impressive record of 171-81 and a .679 winning percentage.
Grant has led Dayton to one NCAA Tournament and three NIT appearances. His overall career record stands at 364-191, and he has several Coach of the Year awards to his name.
Before his time with the Flyers, Grant led VCU, Alabama, and served as an assistant for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, among other roles.
2. Ben McCollum, Drake
43-year-old Ben McCollum is a highly-rated young coach with massive potential. The Iowa native is in his first season at Drake after taking over from former head coach Darian DeVries. McCollum has led Drake to a 30-3 record, which includes 17-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play and a Conference Tournament title.
While Drake is his first major head coaching role, McCollum won four Division II national titles with Northwest Missouri State.
3. Niko Medved, Colorado State
Niko Medved has enjoyed remarkable success in his coaching career to date. The 51-year-old former Gophers player is renowned for overseeing a significant turnaround at Furman, Drake, and, currently, Colorado State.
He won 20 games in his first season with the Rams and has finished above .500 in five of his six seasons, with two NCAA Tournament appearances in the process.
4. Craig Smith, Utah (2021-25)
Craig Smith was recently dismissed as head coach of the Utah Utes. The decision came as a shock, considering the success the 52-year-old Minnesota native achieved with the team despite their lack of resources.
MORE MINNESOTA: Gophers Part Ways with Head Coach Ben Johnson — What’s Next?
He had a 65-62 record and was on track for a third consecutive winning season prior to his dismissal. He also had significant success in his previous role at Utah State with a record of 74-24 and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
5. John Tauer, St. Thomas (MN)
The last name on this list is St. Thomas head coach, John Tauer. Although not the most glamorous name on the list, the 52-year-old is still regarded as an outstanding coach after leading the Tommies to above .500 finishes in each of the last three seasons. He also has a 24-10 record this season and a 12-4 mark in Summit League play.
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