GOPHERS HIRING BEN JOHNSON

[NDGopher69420]

I didn't say anything about Criag Smith at Utah State. I think Smith has proved a lot, but he didn't even take the job, so that say's a lot about how tough it is to attract a coach to a program like Minnesota. I think a lot of people turned this down and this may work out in our favor. I like to gamble, and gambling on a smart guy is less risky than a Richard Pitino hire who only got the job because of who is dad was and Teague connections to Billy Donovan. Coyle is taking a bit of a risk, I like it, if he is wrong this will likely cost him his job. I never thought Richard Pitino had the chops or the desire to coach at Minnesota. He was mailing it in from the beginning and just soaking us for a paycheck.

A lot of people turned this job down? Craig Smith would've taken it in 1 second.

 

[bonin21]

Same guy every day. Lol who needs to improve.

 

[gopherdudepart2]

You mean Ben Jacobson and Tim Miles, two guys no one wanted for this job either?

Miles can coach and so could Craig Smith, I like both of those coaches. If Ben Johnson fails I will own it that i was wrong, but I like to gamble on smart guy's and I think Johnson can build this program in to a winner.

 

[UpAndUnder43]

that's very fair from the revenue standpoint. more was just meaning former player, young, minimal coaching experience, etc.

Whalen was a profitable hire. Tickets sold her first year paid for her first two seasons as head coach. She invigorated that fan base. I have been to 6 games with Whalen as the head coach. In my previous 30 years of life I attended 0 womens basketball games.

 

[gopherdudepart2]

A lot of people turned this job down? Craig Smith would've taken it in 1 second.

Someone asked me how do I know that Ben Johnson will be a good coach, how is it that we know that Criag Smith really wanted this job? I bet he get's the Utah job because it is easier conference to win at.

 

[Gopherbbdude]

Wow... some of u guys are harsh.

I am underwhelmed but will cheer them on anyway. GO GOPHERS!!

 

[everybody knows my name]

Not one of the guys I was pulling for, but I'll get on board. Welcome back to the U, Ben!

Be aware, the outraged fans don't hate you, but right now they're hating Mark Coyle a little bit because they thought we would get a coach with some wins under his belt.

 

[tikited]

Watch. They’ll pay him $2.X and that will be more than Smith gets at U Utah.

Maybe he will get the $15 dollar minimum wage.

 

[graydon]

Is it possible we are overlooking current events; i.e., Minneapolis' reputation around the country. Established coaches may not want to bring their families to a half burned out downtown, or recruit to a city that may have months of riots if the Floyd trial turns out the "wrong" way.

 

[Rickman55]

The U has made it official.

 

[SJUgopher]

So is Holmgren a possibility? Landing a local like that right away would go along way to showing this has a basis in logic. The easiest way to win us over seems to bring in the big Minnesota fish right away.

If I’m Chet....hellllllll no.

 

[bonin21]

I have been to 6 games with Whalen as the head coach. In my previous 30 years of life I attended 0 womens basketball games.

Is it free for alumni? Meh, I still wouldn't go even if I find my ucard

 

[Holy Man]

I sincerely am bemused by this selection. This can't just be because AAU coaches in town said they liked Ben Johnson personally, can it?

It better not be. It’s the equivalent of paying tribute to organized crime to not smash your store.

 

[ethomasp31]

I just don't see how this is going to help us.

Same. Cancelling my season tickets as soon as this is official

The last 8 years weren't enough to cancel your season tickets but this hire was???? That makes zero sense...

 

[gopherdudepart2]

Search for a post where I said Ben Johnson was a good assistant coach for us.

I'll wait.

I never said you did, and I didn't quote you.

 

[CurveballJesus]

Looking for a bright side, not an established coach so Coyle can have more say on assistants. Force a hire of Larry Suggs as an assistant, get Chet, profit?

 

[GG Allen]

Exactly.

Will we even pay him $1M?

Are we that broke?

It's not that they are broke. They could easily pay three or four million a year. Right now politics on campus make it very difficult for Coyle to open up the bank account for a new coach.

Students are pissed they are being charged full tuition for this year's classes. Several sports were just cut because of budget reasons. There's an increased focus on how much men's coaches (especially the white ones) compared to women's coaches and the athlete's themselves. And no one in St Paul particularly wants them to give someone millions right now either.

If Coyle brought some guy in for $4 million a year he would be facing the same backlash here on the academic side.

Ben will presumably be cheap, and easy to ditch in 2 or 3 years if he is obviously struggling.

 

[SJUgopher]

If I’m Chet....hellllllll no.

Nothing against Ben, but I have an NBA future to worry about, I’m not going to a first year head coach.

 

[Bad Gopher]

According to Flugar, Gates declined an interview.

 

[Holy Man]

Whalen was a profitable hire. Tickets sold her first year paid for her first two seasons as head coach. She invigorated that fan base. I have been to 6 games with Whalen as the head coach. In my previous 30 years of life I attended 0 womens basketball games.

Fair enough. Still not much success on the floor or serious inroads to local recruitment.

 

[mkAz]

Interesting choice, not one I would have made. I don’t have a budget to worry about though.

 

[benlaur]

This is like hiring Juwan Howard. Terrible hire

Why does everyone need to be compared to someone? He is not Howard. He is not Whalen. He is not Pitino. He is not Brewster. He is not Fleck. I am not remotely sure how some of these comparisons are even being made.

Given Ben's limited discernable history from a fan's perspective, Coyle should be fully prepared to sell his choice for head coach. Otherwise based on fan reaction, he has put him in a tough spot out of the gate.

 

[Ho Jon]

Is it possible we are overlooking current events; i.e., Minneapolis' reputation around the country. Established coaches may not want to bring their families to a half burned out downtown, or recruit to a city that may have months of riots if the Floyd trial turns out the "wrong" way.

Because a simple Google search will show that Pitino lived in 3.5 million dollar home in Edina. Tough living....

 

[gopherdudepart2]

I really like him!! Can recruit. He’s not Musselman but not many coaches are.

I agree that Musselman is a great coach, but we missed the boat on him. Arkansas has big buck donors, and he is not leaving Arkansas for the U, not this time around, he would have to really flunk out bad at Arkansas to come here now.

 

[Gophers7633]

Don't get it. Pretty bummed out.

 

[BleedGopher]

According to Flugar, Gates declined an interview.

LOL! Gotta cover those tracks!

Go Gophers!!

 

[Bad Gopher]

Don't get it. Pretty bummed out.

This is a pretty bad day.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Jordan Murphy from San Antonio, MN. Forgot he was a local recruit.

OMG, you're being obtuse. I just posted a tweet from someone that is very in tuned with local recruiting. I'm sorry it wasn't obvious that I wasn't saying Murphy was also local. But the other two guys were local. So it gave an example of what the other person was asking.

 

[salzie]

Is it possible we are overlooking current events; i.e., Minneapolis' reputation around the country. Established coaches may not want to bring their families to a half burned out downtown, or recruit to a city that may have months of riots if the Floyd trial turns out the "wrong" way.

Considering downtown Minneapolis isn't half burned down...take it to political forum if you must

 

[GringaGopher]

Whalen was a profitable hire. Tickets sold her first year paid for her first two seasons as head coach. She invigorated that fan base. I have been to 6 games with Whalen as the head coach. In my previous 30 years of life I attended 0 womens basketball games.

Yup and she has recruited the only 5 star BB player recently. Has a good recruiting class coming in and overall too early to know if she will have long term success.