GOPHERS HIRING BEN JOHNSON

[TruthSeeker]

It has to be about money. This makes no sense.

 

[Westmont Basketball]

I agree Ben’s resume doesn’t have me excited about him being out next head coach. But I’ll wait further to judge him when I see the product on the court and his recruiting chops. With that said ppl I talked to as I stated in my first post a couple weeks ago was that Minnesota doesn’t isn’t a very attractive job. I am a bit bummed with this hire, but only time will tell if it was a good hire or not. All we can do is support him and the team now!

 

[Bad Gopher]

Both his basketball hires have been unproven alumni. The stakes are too high to take these kinds of risks.

 

[EG#9]

I think I am finally done. WTF

 

[Urbandale]

This is...not expected.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Sheesh. What was your favorite Craig Smith moment?

 

[tmvander]

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

 

[ethomasp31]

Give the guy a chance....I trust Coyle more than anyone on GopherHole. I had a feeling that is who the hire would be when I read both JG and Doogie's Tweets yesterday....even though all the people with "inside sources" said it would be Gates or Smith.

 

[Bad Gopher]

I think I am finally done. WTF

For the first time, I'm not sure we'll renew.

 

[Goldboy]

It has to be about money. This makes no sense.

Its probably a combination of Money, Minnesota and a Diversity Hire. Just it has no basis in actual basketball.

 

[UpAndUnder43]

I think I am finally done. WTF

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

 

[Otis]

Peach baskets being installed at Williams arena. Basketball program just set back a millennia.

 

[SanDiegoGopherFan]

Talk about a curve ball. FAKE NEWS

 

[tikited]

I might be done with tickets as well. What a let down.

 

[Chicago Gophers]

Minnesotans: We can only hire people with a connection to the University and to Minnesota.
Minnesotans: No, not that one.

 

[SanDiegoGopherFan]

Also, Smith is suppose to still interview. I call BS. This makes no sense and kills the fan interest

 

[NDGopher69420]

Lazy recruiter and has never been a college head coach or even a successful assistant but hey he ticks the boxes demanded by the Star Tribune so at least those people should be happy.

 

[Mikie S]

Home Run? More like bunting foul with two strikes.

 

[boofbonser]

He couldn’t keep delasalle kids here when he was coaching here...

That’s my thing, if he had been a great recruiter while an assistant here then I could see it, but he wasn’t. No head coach experience either.

 

[gopherdudepart2]

Gross.

I don't usually disagree with Dpodoll68, but GROSS MY ASS, former Gopher player who was a leader on the court. Passionate about Minnesota Gopher Basketball, connections to the AAU coaching circuit, one of us, and this dude can flat out coach. I hope he brings Dave Thorson back with him to the Gopher sidelines and keeps at least one assistant from the last staff. If he does that we will right the ship.

 

[Spottedmuskie]

Coyle must think Johnson has such a connection locally that he can keep the best players home and he’s also a cheap hire. Let’s see if he can reel in Chet.

This is what I'm thinking. But look at how many Minnesots kids left when he was here

 

[Go Gophs]

What a Fing joke. Nothing surprises me with this University anymore...

 

[Gopher Teeth]

First in the many hirings from the Richard Pitino coaching tree

 

[Jaykay]

Yikes

 

[bonin21]

Coyle must think Johnson has such a connection locally that he can keep the best players home and he’s also a cheap hire. Let’s see if he can reel in Chet.

You need to meet reality cuz that will never happen.

 

[TruthSeeker]

If this is a money issue hire, then why not keep Pitino for another year?

 

[Tucker32]

Does not excite me to keep season tickets at all. I thought part of the change was to energize the fan base. This won't do it. Maybe he'll "win the press conference", but I haven't seen that side of his personality before so don't expect it. Need to hope for success, but totally surprised with this hire.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Coyle is fiscally responsible and no coach in the tournament was coming to the B1G without breaking the bank.

 

[forever a gopher]

So he was an assistant for a head coach that just got canned here. And he went to Xavier, where they have sucked since he's been there. If you're going to hire an assistant, at least hire one from a successful program.

I am a big Coyle fan, but if this is true, I just lost a lot of respect for him. Is this just a diversity thing?

 

[LongLiveMilesTarver]

At least Souhan can feel good about himself while we lose 25 games a year.