GOPHERS HIRING BEN JOHNSON

[paulser21]

How long will it take me to read this thread from beginning to end? I want to, but wow, 40 pages. Intimidating.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

How long will it take me to read this thread from beginning to end? I want to, but wow, 40 pages. Intimidating.

There isn't going to be a ton of Gopher news for awhile, might as well dig in. If not, I tried to sum it up below.

Cliff notes:
(1) Ben Johnson doesn't have a resume.
(2) Don't be mean to Ben Johnson (no one was mean to Ben Johnson).
(3) Ben Johnson is a good hire because Pitino is bad.
(4) Ben Johnson is a good hire because we don't know for certain he is a bad hire.
(5) Ben Johnson is a good hire because we can't guarantee Smith/Medved/Gates would have been successful.
(6) Budget/diversity have nothing to do with the hiring.
(7) Budget/diversity are a big part of the hiring.

 

[howeda7]

I just don't think Coyle is that big of a moron.

I'm going with that his hands were tied on this decision. This might have Gable's name all over it behind closed doors, but we'll never know. And/or maybe even Walz. Would like to think he has more important things to do ... but ...

I assure you Walz did not weigh in on who the Gopher basketball coach should be. How much pressure Coyle was under from others at the U, we'll never know.

 

[goldengophers]

There isn't going to be a ton of Gopher news for awhile, might as well dig in. If not, I tried to sum it up below.

Cliff notes:
(1) Ben Johnson doesn't have a resume.
(2) Don't be mean to Ben Johnson (no one was mean to Ben Johnson).
(3) Ben Johnson is a good hire because Pitino is bad.
(4) Ben Johnson is a good hire because we don't know for certain he is a bad hire.
(5) Ben Johnson is a good hire because we can't guarantee Smith/Medved/Gates would have been successful.
(6) Budget/diversity have nothing to do with the hiring.
(7) Budget/diversity are a big part of the hiring.

Missed list containing Dean Smith, Roy Williams, ect

 

[MplsGopher]

I assure you Walz did not weigh in on who the Gopher basketball coach should be. How much pressure Coyle was under from others at the U, we'll never know.

Fair enough.

Would be zero surprise from me, if some combination of Gable and the regents dictated it.

 

[Bad Gopher]

Clem wasn't a big time hire. He was the coach at Western Kentucky, which is roughly on the same level of Utah State and Colorado State. And Gonzaga wasn't even at that level in 1999.

Yes and no. Clem had WKU in the top 20 his last year there, which was obviously a major accomplishment. He would've been scooped up by some major program before too long. I recall him being the obvious choice of everyone who I was aware of. With his experience coaching in the Big Ten as an assistant, the fit was perfect.

 

[Slim Tubby]

There isn't going to be a ton of Gopher news for awhile, might as well dig in. If not, I tried to sum it up below.

Cliff notes:
(1) Ben Johnson doesn't have a resume.
(2) Don't be mean to Ben Johnson (no one was mean to Ben Johnson).
(3) Ben Johnson is a good hire because Pitino is bad.
(4) Ben Johnson is a good hire because we don't know for certain he is a bad hire.
(5) Ben Johnson is a good hire because we can't guarantee Smith/Medved/Gates would have been successful.
(6) Budget/diversity have nothing to do with the hiring.
(7) Budget/diversity are a big part of the hiring.

Where the hell were you when I was in college? I could've used your Cliff Notes when I was "studying" every night at the Albatross in Mankato.

 

[Utah State Fan]

Guys, Craig Smith is not going to be the coach at the university of Utah.

 

[Bad Gopher]

Guys, Craig Smith is not going to be the coach at the university of Utah.

Go on.

 

[MplsGopher]

Guys, Craig Smith is not going to be the coach at the university of Utah.

Gonna wait for things to cool down in Mpls in a couple years, and try again?

 

[howeda7]

Gonna wait for things to cool down in Mpls in a couple years, and try again?

I'm guessing that won't happen now unless there's a new AD.

 

[Flipper1a]

There isn't going to be a ton of Gopher news for awhile, might as well dig in. If not, I tried to sum it up below.

Cliff notes:
(1) Ben Johnson doesn't have a resume.
(2) Don't be mean to Ben Johnson (no one was mean to Ben Johnson).
(3) Ben Johnson is a good hire because Pitino is bad.
(4) Ben Johnson is a good hire because we don't know for certain he is a bad hire.
(5) Ben Johnson is a good hire because we can't guarantee Smith/Medved/Gates would have been successful.
(6) Budget/diversity have nothing to do with the hiring.
(7) Budget/diversity are a big part of the hiring.

If you wanted all the negative post Cliff Notes.

 

[WoodburyTim]

Or Gable?

It could very well be Gable who pushed it, but let's face it, Gable isn't the one taking the risk. Coyle will face the heat if it doesn't work out.

There are a lot of things we won't know for awhile about this, but one thing I can say with certainty is that if this doesn't work out the diversity and inclusion crowd isn't going to stand up and say that maybe they made mistake in pushing for a diversity hire. It's part of the appeal of the movement. No accountability.

 

[MplsGopher]

It could very well be Gable who pushed it, but let's face it, Gable isn't the one taking the risk. Coyle will face the heat if it doesn't work out.

There are a lot of things we won't know for awhile about this, but one thing I can say with certainty is that if this doesn't work out the diversity and inclusion crowd isn't going to stand up and say that maybe they made mistake in pushing for a diversity hire. It's part of the appeal of the movement. No accountability.

They're only pushing for fair chance at opportunities. If the person given the opportunity fails, but not criminally, then why would that be not being accountable?

Underrepresented people only deserve fair chance at opportunities, if they'll do well?

Overrepresented folks fail in top spots, all the time.

 

[Gopherfan84]

Who cares. What other school had Izzo on their radar prior to him taking the MSU job. Matt Painter at Purdue?
What other team wanted Adam Thielen?
How many big time programs wanted Jordan Murphy?
Just because others didn't want him doesn't mean he can't be a great coach.
As I said earlier in this thread, the last three coaches hired here all had prior HC experience and none of them got us to where we want to be. Why not try a different approach. All the others mentioned had question marks as well.

Picking outliers isn't the best way to prove a point or comfort people. Most high level D1 basketball coaches rise through the ranks and have some HC experience at lower levels. Painter was rising quick. If he wasn't at Purdue, he was going to get somewhere else fast. They literally forced Keady to retire sooner so they could lock him up. Izzo's hire was so long ago, it's not a fair comp. We literally just tried a different approach with Richard. 1-2 years of HC experience is a lot better than what Ben has so I think your point is valid there. But when you choose him over guys like Smith and Medved who each have strong qualifications here, it's fair for fans to be a little skeptical.

 

[paulser21]

There isn't going to be a ton of Gopher news for awhile, might as well dig in. If not, I tried to sum it up below.

Cliff notes:
(1) Ben Johnson doesn't have a resume.
(2) Don't be mean to Ben Johnson (no one was mean to Ben Johnson).
(3) Ben Johnson is a good hire because Pitino is bad.
(4) Ben Johnson is a good hire because we don't know for certain he is a bad hire.
(5) Ben Johnson is a good hire because we can't guarantee Smith/Medved/Gates would have been successful.
(6) Budget/diversity have nothing to do with the hiring.
(7) Budget/diversity are a big part of the hiring.

Thank you kind sir!

I'm looking forward to the fireworks between GH members.

 

[GopherBlood666]

Where the hell were you when I was in college? I could've used your Cliff Notes when I was "studying" every night at the Albatross in Mankato.

Fellow Maverick alum? Go state!

 

[WoodburyTim]

They're only pushing for fair chance at opportunities. If the person given the opportunity fails, but not criminally, then why would that be not being accountable?

Underrepresented people only deserve fair chance at opportunities, if they'll do well?

Overrepresented folks fail in top spots, all the time.

I am all for with pushing for a fair chance and a fair shake. We all should be.

That is a long way from advocating that race, regardless of what it is, should be a plus or a minus. And that is what we are talking about here.

 

[Desertbobcat]

Hiring Ben Johnson at about $750000 with incentives to bring it up, I think would have been a very good, reasonable hire. he would not have turned it down and if you believe hu is the right guy that much there's nothing wrong with doing that. Why not adopt the Tampa Bay rays/Oakland a's money-ball approach. Just don't throw money at names.

 

[SanDiegoGopherFan]

I still can't a person with his background is getting basically $2 mil.

He hasn't been at any program that has done anything special.

He's like the average joe of coaches.

By the way, I took a stroll through other B1G fan pages....WE ARE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF BIG TEN BASKETBALL FANS ATM.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Fellow Maverick alum? Go state!

The brain cells I have left confirm I did indeed graduate from the Albatro...Mankato State. I miss Schooner Night!

 

[GopherBlood666]

The brain cells I have left confirm I did indeed graduate from the Albatro...Mankato State. I miss Schooner Night!

I miss the Taylor center, it's the best thing Glen has given this state.

 

[matt]

What offense does Johnson run?

I’m pretty sure it is based on making 4 point plays and goading technical fouls from the other team. It’s as efficient as it can possibly be.

 

[howeda7]

I’m pretty sure it is based on making 4 point plays and goading technical fouls from the other team. It’s as efficient as it can possibly be.

What's his 5-on-3 strategy?

 

[Iceland12]

I still can't a person with his background is getting basically $2 mil.

He hasn't been at any program that has done anything special.

He's like the average joe of coaches.

By the way, I took a stroll through other B1G fan pages....WE ARE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF BIG TEN BASKETBALL FANS ATM.

And would you have reported it if they thought it was a good hire?

 

[Iceland12]

Some reaction pages:

College Basketball World Reacts To Minnesota's Surprising Hire

The Minnesota men's basketball program has found a new head coach, just one week after firing Richard Pitino. Golden Gophers alum and former Xavier assistant

thespun.com

An honest look at the hiring of Ben Johnson for Gopher basketball

There are things to be excited about and questions to be answered.

www.thedailygopher.com

Gophers name Ben Johnson its men’s basketball coach

Johnson, 39, was an assistant coach under former U head coach Richard Pitino from 2013-18; he has been Xavier’s associate head coach for the last three seasons.

www.pinejournal.com

Ben Johnson named Gophers men's basketball coach

The former Gophers player and assistant spent the past three seasons as an assistant at Xavier after playing for DeLaSalle High School and the Gophers

www.startribune.com

 

[GFBfan]

The brain cells I have left confirm I did indeed graduate from the Albatro...Mankato State. I miss Schooner Night!

Same here or progressive night at Some Place Else!

 

[Flipper1a]

I still can't a person with his background is getting basically $2 mil.

He hasn't been at any program that has done anything special.

He's like the average joe of coaches.

By the way, I took a stroll through other B1G fan pages....WE ARE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF BIG TEN BASKETBALL FANS ATM.

I felt that way during the season with that roster. Let them laugh now. What is the difference?

 

[MplsGopher]

That is a long way from advocating that race, regardless of what it is, should be a plus or a minus.

Disagree that is what the general ideas are about.

And that is what we are talking about here.

Unfortunately, in this case, it could be true.

And I just think it's silly to cave in, on this one position that will likely be temporary in the grand scheme of things.

Would much rather give 1000 grants to Black Minnesotans to start Black-owned businesses. Many would fail, sure, but some would succeed, and provide jobs lasting much longer than Johnson's tenure here is likely to be.


If wild guessing (as I am!), I would say it's more out of fear of the perception or actual bad press or allegations of unfairness/racism that would have been levied against the U, than out of actually desiring to promote fairness, in this particular hire.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Same here or progressive night at Some Place Else!

I was partial to Metler’s.