Niko Medved emerges as leading candidate to be next Gophers men’s basketball coach
The Gophers’ search for its next men’s basketball coach appears to have a frontrunner: Niko Medved of Colorado State, the Pioneer Press has heard this week.
No announcement from the U is imminent.
Medved is from Minnesota and has deep ties to the U. The 51-year-old coach is currently in his seventh season at Colorado State, where he is 140-84 and has made two NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Rams (24-9) will play Boise State in the Mountain West Tournament championship game Saturday evening. Colorado State appears to be in line for an NCAA Tournament spot next week.
Gophers Athletics Director Mark Coyle said late Thursday morning the U wanted to be “very efficient” in the search to replace Ben Johnson, who was fired early Thursday morning.
“I want to be respectful of where (candidates’ teams) are at,” Coyle told the Pioneer Press on Thursday. “I think it’s only fair to them and to their student-athletes and what they’re trying to do. But again, our goal is to be efficient and find the best candidate that can lead Minnesota to consistent winning the Big Ten Conference.”
Medved, a Roseville native, graduated from the University of Minnesota and was a student manager at the U before taking his first full-time job at Macalester College in St. Paul. He was an assistant at Furman, Minnesota and Colorado State before his first head coaching job at Furman in 2013-14.
Medved has a career 220-93 record over 12 seasons, including four years at Durham through 2016-17 and one season at Drake (2017-18).
Medved is currently making $1.7 million in the 2024-25 season, which is less than Ben Johnson’s $2 million. A buyout of approximately $3.7 million is owed to get Medved out of his Colorado State contract through 2030-31.
Related Articles
- College Sports | Gophers men’s basketball players can enter NCAA transfer portal now. One already has.
- College Sports | Gophers basketball: Revenue sharing delays potential renovations to Williams Arena
- College Sports | John Shipley: Gophers’ next coach has to be program’s true star
- College Sports | Names to consider as Gophers look for next men’s basketball coach
- College Sports | Why did Gophers fire basketball coach Ben Johnson in middle of night?
Topics
-
Minnesota basketball coaching search 2025: Candidates, hot board, names to watch by Golden Gophers insiders
The Gopher Illustrated team just revealed their top Minnesota coaching candidates after Ben Johnson was fired on ThursdayCBS Sports - 8h -
Initial Iowa basketball head coach candidates list
Fran McCaffery is out as Iowa head men's basketball coach. Who is next? Check out an initial list of potential head coach candidates.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Minnesota AD Coyle embarks on coach search with belief basketball program can return to prominence
The challenge at Minnesota of growing the men's basketball program into a consistent Big Ten contender has probably never been greater, considering the surging cost of competing in the current ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
St. Thomas hires former standout as its next boys basketball coach
St. Thomas Aquinas hired its fourth head coach in the past 12 months, bringing in alum and former college mentor to lead the boys basketball programYahoo Sports - 20h -
Gophers basketball: Revenue sharing delays potential renovations to Williams Arena
In 2023, the Gophers athletics department contracted with an architectural design firm to explore the feasibility of renovations to Williams Arena or, to a lesser likelihood, building a new venue ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Iowa reportedly fires men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery after 15 seasons
Iowa men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery has reportedly been fired after 15 seasons with the HawkeyesYahoo Sports - 1d -
NC State basketball coaching search 2025: Candidates, hot board, names to watch by Wolfpack insiders
The Pack Pride team just revealed their top North Carolina State coaching candidates after Kevin Keatts was fired on SundayCBS Sports - 5d -
The ACC is on track for its fewest men's NCAA tournament bids in 25 years -- what's next?
The storied college basketball conference is in flux, but it's banking on an injection of money and young wave of coaches to carry it into this new era.ESPN - 3d -
USF parts ways with interim men's basketball coach Ben Fletcher
USF men's basketball coach Ben Fletcher was given an impossible task to replace Amir Abdur-Rahim after he tragicallyYahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
NBA referee explains why Cade Cunningham was ejected in Thunder's 113-107 win over Pistons
NBA referee explains why Cade Cunningham was ejected in Oklahoma City Thunder's 113-107 win over Detroit Pistons.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Knicks' Jalen Brunson could be out until April with ankle injury: report
The Knicks might have to make do without injured captain Jalen Brunson for an even longer period of time.Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Rookie Isaac Hadjar crashes on formation lap and delays start of F1 Australian GP
Racing Bulls rookie Isaac Hadjar has lost control of his car on the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix, with the French driver sliding into a barrier at turn two and out of the race on ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Rookie Isaac Hadjar crashes on formation lap and delays start of F1 Australian GP
Racing Bulls rookie Isaac Hadjar has lost control of his car on the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix, with the French driver sliding into a barrier at turn two and out of the race on ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Metheny, Peter lead Liberty to its first CUSA tourney title with 79-67 win over Jacksonville State
Yahoo Sports - 32m
More in Sports
-
Men's Bracketology: The Mountain West will see four teams -- for now
Colorado State beat Boise State for the Mountain West title, and automatic bid. This is good news for Indiana.ESPN - 11m -
Men's Bracketology: The Mountain West will see four teams -- for now
Colorado State beat Boise State for the Mountain West title, and automatic bid. This is good news for Indiana.ESPN - 11m -
NBA referee explains why Cade Cunningham was ejected in Thunder's 113-107 win over Pistons
NBA referee explains why Cade Cunningham was ejected in Oklahoma City Thunder's 113-107 win over Detroit Pistons.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Women's Bracketology: UCSD seals first bid, Harvard's win keeps Ivy intrigue alive
After Harvard sealed its NCAA tournament spot, the number of Ivy teams in the field remains unclear.ESPN - 18m -
All eyes on top eight teams, top 16 seeds ahead of Selection Sunday and women’s NCAA bracket
Where the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds play in the regionals is as big of a question this Selection Sunday as which bubble teams will be in the field.ESPN - 18m