Over the past five decades, the Minnesota Golden Gophers have been led by just six permanent head coaches. That number is set to grow to seven following the recent dismissal of Ben Johnson last week. During his four-year stint, Johnson managed only one winning season, with the Gophers never cracking the AP Top 25 and making just one postseason appearance in the 2024 NIT.
Since joining Minnesota in 2016, Athletic Director Mark Coyle is now gearing up for yet another coaching hunt. Who are the standout candidates to take the helm of Minnesota’s basketball program, and what will it take for the Golden Gophers to reclaim their standing in the ever-changing Big Ten? For fans eager to stay in the loop or anyone curious about who might steer the team next, the expert crew at Gopher Illustrated—a 247Sports affiliate dedicated to Minnesota coverage—has you covered.
The Gopher Illustrated team, featuring insiders like Ryan James and Ryan Burns with deep connections to the program, is delivering real-time updates on Johnson’s exit and the road ahead for Minnesota basketball. Beyond hoops, they’re dishing out exclusive insights on football, recruiting, and more, plus access to VIP forums where Gopher faithful can connect with fellow fans and experts.
Right now, Gopher Illustrated is slashing annual subscriptions by 60%*, making it the perfect time to jump in. They’ve already rolled out a list of potential coaching targets, including some unexpected names. Check out Gopher Illustrated to see the full rundown.
Top Minnesota Basketball Coaching Prospects
Among the candidates spotlighted by the staff is Loyola Chicago’s Drew Valentine, a name heating up on the Minnesota coaching radar. At 33, Valentine played at Oakland before joining Tom Izzo’s staff at Michigan State as a graduate assistant, contributing to the Spartans’ 2015 Final Four run alongside his brother Denzel. He later returned to Oakland as an assistant for three years.
Valentine then landed on Porter Moser’s team at Loyola Chicago, playing a key role in their 2018 Final Four and 2021 Sweet 16 campaigns. After Moser’s departure to Oklahoma, Valentine stepped up as head coach, delivering three 20-win seasons in four years.
His Ramblers reached the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and secured NIT berths in the last two seasons, marking him as a strong contender for a power conference gig—potentially with Minnesota under Coyle’s watch. More candidates await at Gopher Illustrated.
**How to Stay in the Know on Minnesota’s Coaching Search**
The rest of the list features other intriguing options, including a surprise frontrunner James calls “the lead candidate.” That name’s exclusive to Gopher Illustrated. Want to know who’s in the running and where the Golden Gophers might be headed? Visit Gopher Illustrated for their coaching hot board and expert insights from seasoned reporters who live and breathe Minnesota sports.
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