The University of Minnesota has fired men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson after his third losing season in four years. Johnson’s departure comes with a $2.93 million buyout of his contract. His overall record stood at 56-71, while his Big Ten play record was 22-57.
Johnson was hired by athletic director Joe Coyle in May 2021 despite having no head-coaching experience. He had previously served as an assistant coach under Richard Pitino from 2013 to 2018 and later joined Xavier’s staff for three seasons. The decision to hire Johnson was seen as a surprise at the time, but Coyle argued that it was necessary to tap into Minnesota’s rich talent pool of high school players.
During his tenure, Johnson landed several highly touted recruits, including Dennis Evans III, who eventually transferred to Louisville and Grand Canyon. However, transfer portal additions and losses also defined his ability to build a competitive roster. The Gophers’ 2024 recruiting class consisted of Isaac Asuma and Grayson Grove, but both players redshirted this season.
Speculated candidates to replace Johnson include Colorado State coach Niko Medved, West Virginia coach Darian DeVries, Oklahoma coach Porter Moser, Drake coach Ben McCollum, former Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders, and Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson. Coyle has stated that the university is committed to competing at the highest level on and off the court and will immediately begin a nationwide search for its next men’s basketball coach.
Source: https://www.startribune.com/ben-johnson-minnesota-gophers-basketball-fired/601235126