Minnesota has pulled the plug on Ben Johnson’s tenure as head coach after four seasons. The hunt for his successor is set to kick off right away, so let’s dive into 10 names worth watching in this coaching carousel.
Dream Scenario/Unlikely Picks
Brian Dutcher, Head Coach, San Diego State
San Diego State’s Brian Dutcher is a fan-favorite whisper in Gopher circles. His dad, Jim Dutcher, ran the Minnesota sideline from 1975-86, and Brian’s made no secret of his admiration for the Gophers gig. He inked an extension with the Aztecs last March, slapping a $10.2 million buyout on the table—though whispers from his prior deal suggested a Minnesota clause could slash that number. Word is, his latest contract might not be so Gopher-friendly.
Eric Musselman, Head Coach, USC
USC’s Eric Musselman is another name that gets Minnesota fans buzzing. His father, Bill Musselman, coached the Timberwolves from 1989-91, and Eric’s dropped plenty of praise for the Gophers job. He’s a proven winner, but with three gigs since 2019, I’d be shocked if he ditched the Trojans for Minneapolis.
Realistic Contenders
Niko Medved, Head Coach, Colorado State
Colorado State’s Niko Medved might be the slam-dunk pick. A Minneapolis kid who graduated from the University of Minnesota, he’s got 12 years of head coaching chops and a stint as a Gophers assistant in 2006-07. He’s turned the Rams into a Mountain West powerhouse, snagging two NCAA Tournament bids.
Johnny Tauer, Head Coach, St. Thomas
Tauer’s hauled St. Thomas from Division III obscurity to a Summit League title game at the D-I level. With a shiny new arena opening next season, the Tommies will fight tooth and nail to keep him. He’s a hoops wizard, but would he bail on his alma mater?
Ben McCollum, Head Coach, Drake
Drake’s Ben McCollum is the mid-major darling of this year’s coaching buzz. After 15 years and four D-II National Titles at Northwest Missouri State, he’s got the Bulldogs soaring at 30-3, sweeping the Missouri Valley regular season and tourney in his debut year. His name’s on every shortlist.
Ryan Saunders, Assistant Coach, Denver Nuggets
College hoops has a new crush: ex-players turned NBA assistants. BYU, Utah, and Florida State have jumped on this train recently. After the Ben Johnson flop, poaching Saunders from Denver’s bench could be a bold gamble worth rolling the dice on.
Craig Smith, Head Coach, Utah
Like Johnson, Utah’s Craig Smith got the axe after four tourney-less years with little support from the school. Hailing from Stephen, Minn., he’s notched wins at South Dakota and Utah State. The Gophers could be his home-state redemption shot.
Wildcard Gambles
Anthony Grant, Head Coach, Dayton
Anthony Grant’s a perennial name-drop for every power-conference vacancy. He’s molded Dayton into a mid-major juggernaut, but he’d likely only jump for a dream gig—and Minnesota might not fit the bill.
Kimani Young, Assistant Coach, UConn
The Gophers rolled the dice on Johnson’s zero head-coaching experience. If they’re feeling risky again, UConn’s top assistant, Kimani Young, could be in play. He coached at Minnesota from 2013-18, and if he’s itching to lead, this could be his shot.
Will Wade, Head Coach, McNeese
Want a throwback to the win-at-all-costs Clem Haskins days? McNeese’s Will Wade is your guy. He’ll pop up on every job radar, though his Gophers odds hover just above slim-to-none. He’s a coaching stud—just don’t ask about the rulebook.
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