Big Ten Basketball: Ranking all 18 head coaches for 2026-27 season (14. Niko Medved (Minnesota))

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BleedGopher

BleedGopher

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Per Joey:

14. Niko Medved (Minnesota)​

Nearly thirty years ago Medved graduated from Minnesota and was briefly an assistant coach for the Golden Gophers. It’s only fitting that he’s trying to revitalize the program all these years later. The Minneapolis native was really solid in his first few head coaching gigs, starting turnarounds at Furman and Drake before leading Colorado State to three NCAA Tournament appearances.

After leading the Rams to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Medved made his way to Minnesota and is still getting started. Year one certainly didn’t jump off the page, with the Golden Gophers finishing 11th in the league and settling for a trip to the College Basketball Crown, though it was at least an improvement from before his arrival.

It’s far too early to make any judgments on Medved; after all his first year at Colorado State was even worse at just 12-20. He’s a program builder and needs time but Big Ten programs aren’t quite as patient as those in the MVC or MWC. He’s accomplished plenty of exciting things in recent years and the faithful in Minneapolis are hoping there is a step forward in 2027.

bustingbrackets.com

Big Ten Basketball: Ranking all 18 head coaches for 2026-27 season

After the shocking departure of Dusty May to the Dallas Mavericks, we're ranking the current head coaches of the Big Ten with Mike Boynton as Michigan's new man
bustingbrackets.com bustingbrackets.com

Go Gophers!!
 

BleedGopher said:
Per Joey:

14. Niko Medved (Minnesota)​

Nearly thirty years ago Medved graduated from Minnesota and was briefly an assistant coach for the Golden Gophers. It’s only fitting that he’s trying to revitalize the program all these years later. The Minneapolis native was really solid in his first few head coaching gigs, starting turnarounds at Furman and Drake before leading Colorado State to three NCAA Tournament appearances.

After leading the Rams to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Medved made his way to Minnesota and is still getting started. Year one certainly didn’t jump off the page, with the Golden Gophers finishing 11th in the league and settling for a trip to the College Basketball Crown, though it was at least an improvement from before his arrival.

It’s far too early to make any judgments on Medved; after all his first year at Colorado State was even worse at just 12-20. He’s a program builder and needs time but Big Ten programs aren’t quite as patient as those in the MVC or MWC. He’s accomplished plenty of exciting things in recent years and the faithful in Minneapolis are hoping there is a step forward in 2027.

bustingbrackets.com

Big Ten Basketball: Ranking all 18 head coaches for 2026-27 season

After the shocking departure of Dusty May to the Dallas Mavericks, we're ranking the current head coaches of the Big Ten with Mike Boynton as Michigan's new man
bustingbrackets.com bustingbrackets.com

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...
Minnesota is more than patient enough to give Niko a chance to hit his stride. And I bet he hits it well before patience becomes a factor.
 

I think he’s better that the 14th best coach. Not sure if the gophers are better that the 14th best team though…time will tell.
 

gopherbadgerman said:
I think he’s better that the 14th best coach. Not sure if the gophers are better that the 14th best team though…time will tell.
Click to expand...
I concur. The Big Ten is a murderers row of excellent coaches, but I'm delighted by what I saw from him and his team last year. They exceeded my expectations, and my expectations were very high. They were simply one of the very best-coached teams in the league. In my book, that translates to Niko being one of the best head coaches in the league. Certainly top half; possibly top shelf.
 

Bad Gopher said:
I concur. The Big Ten is a murderers row of excellent coaches, but I'm delighted by what I saw from him and his team last year. They exceeded my expectations, and my expectations were very high. They were simply one of the very best-coached teams in the league. In my book, that translates to Niko being one of the best head coaches in the league. Certainly top half; possibly top shelf.
Click to expand...
I agree with what we saw last year...the Gophers were coached way above their roster talents. But, roster construction is part of coaching, as well.

The accomplishments of the 13 coaches ahead of Niko make it tough to move him higher. For instance, when Musselman was at Arkansas, I thought from afar he was the guy who maybe should coach the Gophers. And, I was thinking maybe Niko should be ahead of him, now....but, Two Elite 8's and a Sweet 16 put him ahead of Niko along with a better run in the Mountain West...even if the two years at USC have been woeful. And, now again, he's got a roster poised to get back to the tournament.

Jake Diebler is not 18th either...he just took Ohio St to the tournament in year two. He has Ohio St on many people's Top 25 teams in the country list in his third year.

Like you said...Murderers Row of excellent coaches.
 


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