Niko Medved was born into a family of Gophers basketball fans. Now he's their head coach

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The gravitation toward the Gophers for Niko Medved began even before he was born, when his father bought the season tickets that would soon spark his young son's passion for college basketball.

With that kind of initiation, becoming the coach at Minnesota might well have been inevitable — even if part of him was still having a hard time believing the job he left Colorado State to accept was his.

“If you really believe in something and you stick with it and you get the right people who support you, anything can happen,” Medved said Tuesday at his introductory news conference packed with family members, current players, program boosters, other Gophers coaches and cheerleaders in maroon and gold.

Medved, who was hired on a six-year contract that starts at $3 million annually, couldn't have fathomed such compensation when he enrolled at Minnesota in 1992 and became a student manager on the staff under coach Clem Haskins.

Those were the days when Williams Arena was a much harder place for opponents to leave the raised floor with a win, when Gophers basketball was one of the hottest tickets in town.

“It's just a magical place,” Medved said.

The Barn, as it's colloquially known, is 97 years old with an uncertain future. Followers of the Gophers are frequently divided over whether it should be demolished and replaced or just renovated to enhance the fan experience, but Medved made clear that he's far more focused on recruiting, staff and community support than the age of the main stage. The Gophers, after all, have a sparkling practice facility that opened in 2018.

“When that place is packed, there’s a certain energy in there that’s different than anywhere you go,” Medved said. “There’s ghosts in Williams Arena. Do you know what I mean? In a good way. I want that to be a strength of our program.”

Terms of his agreement, made public by the university on Tuesday, include annual $100,000 raises and automatic one-year extensions for each NCAA Tournament invitation. The deal is subject to a standard background check completion and formal approval by the Board of Regents, which must occur within two weeks.

Athletic director Mark Coyle has signaled that boosting men’s basketball is a priority, a commitment that comes at an expensive juncture. Colorado State is owed a buyout for Medved at one-third of the remaining value on his contract, and Minnesota has a buyout of about $2.9 million to pay his predecessor Ben Johnson. Factor in the $1 million raise in salary from Johnson to Medved and the revenue sharing coming to college sports, and the commencement of this goal of being a Big Ten contender essentially equates to a startup cost beyond $10 million even if the money comes from different buckets.

Coyle said the athletic department's operating budget can cover it without taking on debt, with reserve funds earmarked for Medved's buyout. He said his goal is for the men's basketball team to be compensated — including revenue sharing and NIL money — at total amount that would rank in the top one-third of the Big Ten.

That's one of several areas where more filled seats at Williams Arena would help. The average over 19 home games of announced attendance figures this season was 8,923 per game, about 61% of the arena’s current capacity.

“Our crowds weren’t what we hoped they would be. When the fans did show up, they were awesome and they were loud, but there’s no doubt we need that energy, that excitement,” Coyle said, adding: “That’s no disrespect to anybody before, but we needed something different.”

Johnson was a native of the Twin Cities area who'd previously been an assistant with the program, like Medved, but his successor comes with 12 years of experience as a head coach over stops at Furman, Drake and Colorado State. Medved made a point to praise Johnson at the beginning of his remarks, a sign of respect of their friendship within the cutthroat profession.

The Gophers never made the NCAA Tournament in four years under Johnson as the game rapidly changed, and they've been there only twice in the past 12 years. That's as good of a place as any to start.

“I just feel like now is a time,” Medved said. “(backslash)We’ve went through this transition in college athletics, and now is the time more than ever that Minnesota is poised to take the next step forward.”

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.

Topics

Details on new Gophers coach Niko Medved’s contract

New Gophers men’s basketball coach coach Niko Medved will earn $1 million more than what previous U coach Ben Johnson made last season, according to the U’s memorandum of understanding shared ...
Yahoo Sports - 23h
Gophers coaching search can advance with Niko Medved’s Colorado State falling in NCAA Tournament

The Gophers’ effort to bring in a new men’s basketball coach might have had a big domino fall in Seattle on Sunday. Colorado State and its head coach Niko Medved — the U’s top candidate for the job ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
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. ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
Gophers hire Medved as men's basketball coach

Minnesota has announced the hiring of Minneapolis native and Colorado State coach Niko Medved as its next men's basketball coach. Medved's season ended Sunday as the Rams lost at the buzzer to ...
ESPN - 1d
Watch new Gophers coach Niko Medved’s introductory press conference at noon

One day after his hiring was announced, new Minnesota men’s basketball coach Niko Medved will speak to the media at his introductory press conference at noon on Tuesday at the U’s practice ...
Yahoo Sports - 23h
Gophers’ Mark Coyle was willing to wait for Niko Medved

Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle left the scorers table at the NCAA tournament game between Iowa State and Mississippi in Milwaukee on Sunday night. His prospective new men’s basketball coach, ...
Yahoo Sports - 17h
Lytle: Niko Medved raised the bar, now Colorado State must continue to move forward

Niko Medved set a new standard at Colorado State and now Rams fans and CSU administration must help keep the momentum moving forward.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Is Niko Medved leaving Colorado State? Here's a rundown of the speculation

Rumors are flying about Niko Medved being a top candidate to be Minnesota's next head coach. Here's what to know as Rams start NCAA Tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Niko Medved to leave Colorado State for native Minnesota after tourney run with Rams, AP source says

Minnesota was making plans to hire Colorado State's Niko Medved as its next head coach on Monday, according a person with knowledge of the decision, after the Twin Cities-area native and former ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Minnesota hires Niko Medved: Colorado State coach returns home to Minneapolis following Mountain West success

The Gophers land an alum and one of the hotter names on the coaching carousel this cycle
CBS Sports - 1d
Ex-Colorado State Star Sends 5-Word Message to Niko Medved After Minnesota Golden Gophers Hiring

David Roddy sent a message to his former coach.
Yahoo Sports - 7h
Medved to leave Colorado State for native Minnesota after tourney run with Rams, AP source says

Minnesota was making plans to hire Colorado State’s Niko Medved as its next head coach on Monday, according a person with knowledge of the decision.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
College basketball coaching changes: Ben McCollum, Niko Medved, Ryan Odom all homecoming hirings in hoops

More on Sean Miller leaving Xavier for Texas. Plus: Josh Pastner agreed to be UNLV's next coach Monday night. The carousel, and portal, are humming
CBS Sports - 1d
Gophers men’s basketball: Two more players to enter NCAA transfer portal

The Gophers men’s basketball program had two players enter the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday. Without a sitting head coach, Minnesota watched junior forward Frank Mitchell and redshirt ...
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Coach confirms Aaron Huglen’s Gophers career is done

As Minnesota prepares to open the Fargo regional with a game versus Massachusetts on Thursday, longtime Gophers fans will likely reminisce about their last date with the Minutemen, and the play ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Niko Medved leaves Colorado State for his native Minnesota after an NCAA tournament run by the Rams

Minnesota agreed to a six-year contract with the Twin Cities-area native and former student manager for the Gophers who had the Rams within one basket of the Sweet 16.
Yahoo Sports - 23h
What tearing ACL vs Iowa State taught Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard about Cyclones fans

Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard has had a good experience with Iowa State fans. Now he'll face the Cyclones in the NCAA tournament
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Minnesota basketball coaching search 2025: Candidates, hot board, names to watch by Golden Gophers experts

The Gopher Illustrated team just revealed their top Minnesota coaching candidates after Ben Johnson was fired on Thursday
CBS Sports - 3d
H.S. BASKETBALL: Two local boys teams name new head coaches

New lead man at Pine Grove Pine Grove is officially moving its boys basketball team into a new phase with the naming of John Rizzo as the next head coach. He replaces Jordan Lehman who went 7-15 ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
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 - Mar. 14
UConn's Dan Hurley on the intensity he brings to coaching

As March Madness nears, UConn basketball coach Dan Hurley sat down with 60 Minutes to talk about his superstitions, sideline antics, and living up to the family name.
CBS News - Mar. 9
Gophers are Fargo-bound, will face UMass in NCAA hockey opener

Bob Motzko’s initial trip to the NCAA Frozen Four as head coach at Minnesota came three years ago, when the Gophers beat UMass and Western Michigan at the regional level to reach college hockey’s ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
West Virginia Men's Basketball Head Coaching Hotboard

Looking at a list of potential candidates to fill the West Virginia men's head basketball coaching vacancy.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Wisconsin hires new women’s basketball head coach

Wisconsin is hiring Robin Pingeton as its new women's basketball head coach, according to a news release on Tuesday.
Yahoo Sports - 21h
Indiana hires Iowa basketball head coach target Darian DeVries

Indiana has hired Iowa basketball head coaching target Darian DeVries as the next head man in Bloomington.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 18
South Carolina women's basketball super fan Plies gifts Dawn Staley gem-studded chain

The rapper Plies is a Dawn Staley and South Carolina women's basketball super fan. He gifted the coach a gem-studded chain ahead of March Madness.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Florida Gators assistant named Columbia University men's basketball head coach

Columbia announced on Monday that Florida basketball assistant Kevin Hovde is set to become their next head coach for their men's basketball team.
Yahoo Sports - 22h
Carter Gilmore pens an emotional goodbye to Wisconsin basketball; John Blackwell says Badgers will 'bounce back'

Carter Gilmore thanked the fans, his coaches, teammates and family in an emotional goodbye to Wisconsin basketball.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
A longtime fan, Ben McCollum aims to restore winning at Iowa

Ben McCollum grew up a fan of the Iowa men’s basketball team. McCollum was introduced as Iowa’s new head coach on Tuesday, a day after his hiring was announced by the university. The Iowa native, ...
Yahoo Sports - 15h
Luke Loucks is the latest former Seminole to return to Florida State as a head coach

Former FSU basketball player Luke Loucks succeeds Leonard Hamilton as the men's basketball head coach.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
Campbell hires Florida assistant John Andrzejek as men's basketball head coach

Florida assistant coach John Andrzejek is taking over as the head coach at Campbell. The school announced the hiring Thursday and will hold an introductory news conference for Andrzejek after the ...
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Report: Former LSU coach Will Wade named men's basketball head coach at NC State

Former LSU basketball coach Will Wade is heading to NC State. The news broke once day before McNeese begins its NCAA Tournament journey.
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Iowa basketball reportedly finalizing deal with Drake head coach Ben McCollum

After a roller coaster of emotions, the Iowa Hawkeyes and Drake head coach Ben McCollum are reportedly finalizing a deal.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
What to know about Richard Pitino, Xavier basketball's new head coach

At 42 years old, Richard Pitino is 14 years younger than the Xavier Musketeers' previous head coach, Sean Miller.
Yahoo Sports - 10h
Phil Martelli Jr. talks relationship with Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo

Bryant head coach Phil Martelli Jr. talks about his relationship with MSU head coach Tom Izzo
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 17
How much Georgia basketball pays head coach Mike White

How much does UGA basketball coach Mike White make? Looking at Mike White's salary compared to the rest of the NCAA
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Florida basketball head coach Todd Golden left off Coach of the Year short list

Despite all that Florida has accomplished in Todd Golden's third year, the Gators' head coach did was snubbed as a Coach of the Year Award finalist.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
How social media reacted to Iowa basketball firing Fran McCaffery

Here's how Iowa basketball fans reacted across social media to the news that the Hawkeyes had fired head coach Fran McCaffery.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
Xavier Musketeers to hire Richard Pitino as next head basketball coach, per report

Richard Pitino, the son of Hall-of-Famer and St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, will be the next head coach of the Xavier Musketeers in the Big East.
Yahoo Sports - 11h