Shooter: Brian Dutcher praises Gophers’ hiring of Ben Johnson

[BleedGopher]

per Shooter:

Dutcher, reached by the Pioneer Press last week, said Coyle made a “great” hire in Johnson. Dutcher, 61, a Bloomington Jefferson grad, last year signed a guaranteed $7.8 million, six-year contract with San Diego State with a buyout of $6.925 million. But he required that the buyout would be just $1 million if he were to be hired by the Gophers. San Diego State obliged.

“I had a clause in my contract because it pulls at the heartstrings — it’s where my dad (Jim) coached (Gophers’ last Big Ten championship in 1982). It’s where I went to school, my wife went to school, where my three sisters went to school,” Dutcher said. “So, you know.”

Dutcher said Coyle “couldn’t have been any nicer” in expressing interest. “Mark called me … during the first round of the (NCAA) tournament and said, ‘I’d like to talk to you about the job if you’re interested. I don’t want to bother you during the tournament, and when the tournament’s over, I’ll reach back out to you,’ ” Dutcher said.

Dutcher said fine and that he would “love” to hear what Coyle had to say.

On Monday, Dutcher received a voicemail saying Minnesota had “gone down the road with someone else and found their guy,” Dutcher said.

“That’s when they hired Ben. I loved it. I heard Ben blew the (committee) away, did a great job, which is not surprising. I think it’s a great hire. He’s a great young coach that obviously loves the school, loves the city, and I think he’ll do an outstanding job there.”

Charley Walters: Brian Dutcher praises Gophers’ hiring of Ben Johnson

Knowledgeable people in college basketball were convinced Dutcher would be the new men’s coach. So what happened?

www.twincities.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[Obi-Wan Okogie]

Definition of class if you can be very disappointed but still truly believe the person they took over you is a great fit and they did well. Most people would just get butthurt and hold a low-level grudge.

 

[MplsGopher]

I heard Ben blew the (committee) away, did a great job, which is not surprising.

I guess the Montana State and Northern Illinois committees were not as blown away.

However, Tim Brewster apparantely did blow away the committee (Maturi) back then.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Definition of class if you can be very disappointed but still truly believe the person they took over you is a great fit and they did well. Most people would just get butthurt and hold a low-level grudge.

Not 100% sure he was disappointed, he was actually probably a little relieved when they hired Johnson. Yes he has the clause in his buyout but he also has a good thing going at SDSU and he isn't exactly a spring chicken.

I have no doubt that he has a soft spot for Minnesota given his past, but at 61 he probably isn't actively seeking to move up the coaching ranks the way a younger coach would be. And he would probably be even less interested in a rebuild the way the Gophers are going to be.

 

[Gopho Sapiens]

I heard Ben blew the (committee) away, did a great job, which is not surprising.

I guess the Montana State and Northern Illinois committees were not as blown away.

However, Tim Brewster apparantely did blow away the committee (Maturi) back then.

Or he plain and simply wasn't what they were looking for.

Maybe they wanted somebody who had better connections in THEIR area.

Just because X school or team didn't hire Y coach doesn't mean they weren't capable or were a lesser coach.

Maybe they wanted a different age or a left-hander or a Subaru driver or an Irish name.

Whatever.

Their coach, their hire.

 

[MplsGopher]

Just because X school or team didn't hire Y coach doesn't mean they weren't capable or were a lesser coach.

It means they thought that person was a lesser candidate than the other candidates, at that time.

And not for the silly reasons you listed off, other than possibly having better connections within their area. I would have to see who they hired over Ben to know if that ended up being true or not. Suspect not.

 

[TurfGopher]

Money woes + Diversity concerns + An excellent interview = Ben Johnson

I hope Coyle didn't Teague it.

 

[MplsGopher]

Money woes + Diversity concerns + An excellent interview = Ben Johnson

I hope Coyle didn't Teague it.

Wasn't money. Smith would've done it easily for what they're paying Ben. Is what I heard.

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Money woes + Diversity concerns + An excellent interview = Ben Johnson

I hope Coyle didn't Teague it.

Did Maturi hire Monson and Tubby?

 

[GopherBlood777]

This is the biggest thing that bothered me about the hire. There were multiple candidates ready to interview and the U didn't even want to hear what they had to say? If you go through the process and end up with BJ than fine, but to say F the process we got our guy seems short sighted. The only time that may be the right move is when the coaching prospect is sooo hot you have to pull the trigger or risk losing them. That was not the case with our choice.

 

[Gopher Teeth]

Definition of class if you can be very disappointed but still truly believe the person they took over you is a great fit and they did well. Most people would just get butthurt and hold a low-level grudge.

Definitely a class act, but from his comments it looks like Minnesota could have definitely got him, I was very surprised with what he shared. Quote that sets the stage:

“Mark called me … during the first round of the (NCAA) tournament and said, ‘I’d like to talk to you about the job if you’re interested."

Your response is not this if you are less than 50/50

Dutcher said fine and that he would “love” to hear what Coyle had to say.

. . .you don't tell the media that if you weren't really interested. That quote is not going to help you in your current gig when you are quoted in the media talking about loving to hear about others places you could go. How does that go over with current players or future recruits, hint: its not helpful. This guy was talking from the heart and not his head, which tells me all I need to know about where he was at.

I have been accepting the possible narrative that Dutcher really wasn't gettable, but this really changed that, and now I see that that narrative is false. I am really shocked, again that Minnesota didn't even talk to an established coach who has built a program with a proven track record and was no doubt gettable. I hope that Ben does well, but this is now a confirmed another option that was very gettable for the U. All the speculation about we didn't really have a chance with Dutcher is now out the window. This committee made a very big call without even interviewing some great candidates and this could come back to haunt them. I wonder what peoples' reactions would be if Dutcher and Smith were black and Ben Johnson was white and this hire went down the way it did, would people be upset or would they be all in? Would people be upset that two very qualified black coaches were not even interviewed, despite having strong interest, for an unproven white coach who had a good interview?

 

[short ornery norwegian]

I have done some job-related interviewing in my time in radio. In general, it's easy to tell the candidates who are not qualified or just not right for the job. and, when you interview an outstanding candidate, you can generally tell. there is just something that stands out when a person really wants the job and is qualified.

the real trick is when nobody knocks your socks off, and you have to choose from several good, but not great candidates. It can become a case of which one do we dislike the least.

in this case, from all accounts, Johnson hit a home run in his interview, and Coyle decided that's it - that's our coach. It's not like this is the first coach Coyle has ever hired. He's been doing this for a while at several schools. We'll just have to wait and see how it all works out.

Having said that, I've seen people hired in radio who lasted a month on the job and either quit or were fired. sometimes, a person comes in and nails the interview, but it turns out they overstated their qualifications or their willingness to do the job. sometimes people flat-out lie to you. You may be able to BS your way into a job, but you can't BS your way to keep the job.

 

[Gopher Teeth]

I have done some job-related interviewing in my time in radio. In general, it's easy to tell the candidates who are not qualified or just not right for the job. and, when you interview an outstanding candidate, you can generally tell. there is just something that stands out when a person really wants the job and is qualified.

the real trick is when nobody knocks your socks off, and you have to choose from several good, but not great candidates. It can become a case of which one do we dislike the least.

in this case, from all accounts, Johnson hit a home run in his interview, and Coyle decided that's it - that's our coach. It's not like this is the first coach Coyle has ever hired. He's been doing this for a while at several schools. We'll just have to wait and see how it all works out.

Having said that, I've seen people hired in radio who lasted a month on the job and either quit or were fired. sometimes, a person comes in and nails the interview, but it turns out they overstated their qualifications or their willingness to do the job. sometimes people flat-out lie to you. You may be able to BS your way into a job, but you can't BS your way to keep the job.

Exactly, I have had the same experience, some people are really good in interviews. The problem is an interview is an imperfect measure and should never be the sole reason for making a selection.

 

[Johnnyboy18]

Exactly, I have had the same experience, some people are really good in interviews. The problem is an interview is an imperfect measure and should never be the sole reason for making a selection.

Do really think the interview was the sole reason he got the job?

 

[Gopher Teeth]

Do really think the interview was the sole reason he got the job?

I hope so because it's not his resume, and the whole locking down Minnesota angle is absurd. If Coyle really believes that then he should be fired. That's not how recruiting works, doesn't work like that anywhere in the country. That leaves only one thing left which is checking the right boxes, but I want to give Coyle the benefit of the doubt that it was at least a good interview on top of box checking.

 

[Johnnyboy18]

I hope so because it's not his resume, and the whole locking down Minnesota angle is absurd. If Coyle really believes that then he should be fired. That's not how recruiting works, doesn't work like that anywhere in the country. That leaves only one thing left which is checking the right boxes, but I want to give Coyle the benefit of the doubt that it was at least a good interview on top of box checking.

Recruiting in state better shouldn't be one of the reasons to hire/fire a coach? That's a ridiculous statement considering the talent on the team last year. He clearly matched what Coyle was looking for on top of giving a good interview.

 

[MplsGopher]

Recruiting in state better shouldn't be one of the reasons to hire/fire a coach?

That's not what he said.

There's nothing wrong with it being, like 5% of the equation.

 

[howeda7]

Did Maturi hire Monson and Tubby?

Just Tubby.

 

[Johnnyboy18]

That's not what he said.

There's nothing wrong with it being, like 5% of the equation.

Disagree, recruiting should be at 40% of the reason for hiring a coach.

 

[MplsGopher]

Disagree, recruiting should be at 40% of the reason for hiring a coach.

And now you switch it to overall recruiting, rather than just recruiting in state better.


Agree that overall recruiting is a bigger piece. For me, I still put head coaching record at least 70%.

 

[CentralGopher]

Wasn't money. Smith would've done it easily for what they're paying Ben. Is what I heard.

Prove it

 

[MplsGopher]

Prove it

Prove that I heard it?

OK. I heard it. Done.

 

[howeda7]

Prove that I heard it?

OK. I heard it. Done.

The fact that Craig Smith wanted this job is not in dispute except by people who want to believe we only hired Ben because no one with any options would take the job.

 

[alchemy2u]

I hope so because it's not his resume, and the whole locking down Minnesota angle is absurd. If Coyle really believes that then he should be fired. That's not how recruiting works, doesn't work like that anywhere in the country. That leaves only one thing left which is checking the right boxes, but I want to give Coyle the benefit of the doubt that it was at least a good interview on top of box checking.

You have to go by Coyle’s history and know that he has talked to other coach and got recommendations for Ben. We have heard glowing recommendations from the coaches he has worked with, from the players he has coached/recruited, from the youth basketball community, from prior players at the U, etc...

There is a lot of sources for the information that Coyle used to make the hire. You are being very naive if you think it was just one interview.

 

[CentralGopher]

Prove that I heard it?

OK. I heard it. Done.

Prove that Smith would have done it for the same money.

 

[MplsGopher]

You have to go by Coyle’s history and know that he has talked to other coach and got recommendations for Ben. We have heard glowing recommendations from the coaches he has worked with, from the players he has coached/recruited, from the youth basketball community, from prior players at the U, etc...

Ask other people for their opinions?? My god, Coyle is a genius!! No one has ever thought of that before!

Of course, Montana State and Northern Illinois' committees would never have thought of that!

 

[MplsGopher]

Prove that Smith would have done it for the same money.

Like I said, it's what I heard. I don't have to prove jack s__t.

 

[CentralGopher]

Like I said, it's what I heard. I don't have to prove jack s__t.

I can say I hear stuff too. Doesn't mean what I say is factual in any way.

 

[MplsGopher]

Prove the sun is going to rise tomorrow Central.

You can't, can you! That must prove you're full of crap.


Where did I say it was a fact?

I literally said "Is what I heard".

 

[Gopher Teeth]

Prove that Smith would have done it for the same money.

Ahhh, because he took 1.85 from Utah, which is a little less than what Ben got, are you really going to keep arguing this point?