BleedGopher
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Per Joey:
183. Ben Johnson (Minnesota) (Last year: 208)
Overall record: 41-54
A former Big Ten player at Northwestern and Minnesota, Johnson has been head coach at his alma mater since 2021 and is doing decently at his first head coaching position. He had previously spent 16 years as a D1 assistant, working at Northern Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Xavier before heading back to Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers showed little sign of potential, finishing last place in the Big Ten in each of his first two seasons. Last year was different, with a 19-15 mark and a trip into the NIT.
146. Dan Monson (Eastern Washington) (Last year: 153)
Overall record: 445-396
Many college basketball fans don’t realize that Monson was head coach at Gonzaga during their first Cinderella run, taking them to the Elite Eight back in 1999. A longtime former assistant with the Bulldogs, he now has nearly three decades of head coaching experience, moving to Minnesota and later Long Beach State. He originally arrived back in 2007 and took Long Beach State to success, but was given an ultimatum and fired despite reaching this year’s NCAA Tournament. Fortunately, Eastern Washington trusted him as their new head coach and he’ll look to keep building on his legacy back in his home state.
99. Niko Medved (Colorado State) (Last year: 116)
Overall record: 196-163
The record and overall accomplishments don’t scream it, but Medved has been a very solid head coach in his career. The Minnesotan began his head coaching career by rebuilding Furman before a lone, solid season at Drake. He arrived at Colorado State back in 2018, returning to a program he assisted under Tim Miles several years earlier. The results have been a pair of NCAA Tournaments, a deep NIT run, and another 25-win effort this past season.
94. Richard Pitino (New Mexico) (Last year: 117)
Overall record: 220-178
While his career pales in comparison to his father at this point, Pitino has a fair bit of experience himself in this coaching world. He aided several staffs, including under Rick at Louisville and Billy Donovan at Florida before a great first head coaching stint at FIU. Pitino then had 8 up and down seasons leading Minnesota in the Big Ten before he was hired at New Mexico back in 2021. His Lobos have progressed in these last three years, culminating in a 26-win season with an NCAA Tournament appearance and MWC Tournament title.
21. Brian Dutcher (San Diego State) (Last year: 24)
Overall record: 177-58
Final Four in 2023
Long before his own head coaching journey, Dutcher played a major role in a national championship at Michigan in 1989 before bringing the Fab Five to Ann Arbor. Dutcher was a long-time assistant under Steve Fisher both with those Wolverines and with San Diego State. After helping Fisher build the Aztecs program from the ground up, Dutcher has done even more remarkable work as head coach since 2017. Year three was a pandemic-shortened 30-win campaign, though 2023’s run to the national title game certainly earns the spotlight. He then led the Aztecs back to the Sweet Sixteen last season.
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Go Gophers!!
183. Ben Johnson (Minnesota) (Last year: 208)
Overall record: 41-54
A former Big Ten player at Northwestern and Minnesota, Johnson has been head coach at his alma mater since 2021 and is doing decently at his first head coaching position. He had previously spent 16 years as a D1 assistant, working at Northern Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Xavier before heading back to Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers showed little sign of potential, finishing last place in the Big Ten in each of his first two seasons. Last year was different, with a 19-15 mark and a trip into the NIT.
146. Dan Monson (Eastern Washington) (Last year: 153)
Overall record: 445-396
Many college basketball fans don’t realize that Monson was head coach at Gonzaga during their first Cinderella run, taking them to the Elite Eight back in 1999. A longtime former assistant with the Bulldogs, he now has nearly three decades of head coaching experience, moving to Minnesota and later Long Beach State. He originally arrived back in 2007 and took Long Beach State to success, but was given an ultimatum and fired despite reaching this year’s NCAA Tournament. Fortunately, Eastern Washington trusted him as their new head coach and he’ll look to keep building on his legacy back in his home state.
99. Niko Medved (Colorado State) (Last year: 116)
Overall record: 196-163
The record and overall accomplishments don’t scream it, but Medved has been a very solid head coach in his career. The Minnesotan began his head coaching career by rebuilding Furman before a lone, solid season at Drake. He arrived at Colorado State back in 2018, returning to a program he assisted under Tim Miles several years earlier. The results have been a pair of NCAA Tournaments, a deep NIT run, and another 25-win effort this past season.
94. Richard Pitino (New Mexico) (Last year: 117)
Overall record: 220-178
While his career pales in comparison to his father at this point, Pitino has a fair bit of experience himself in this coaching world. He aided several staffs, including under Rick at Louisville and Billy Donovan at Florida before a great first head coaching stint at FIU. Pitino then had 8 up and down seasons leading Minnesota in the Big Ten before he was hired at New Mexico back in 2021. His Lobos have progressed in these last three years, culminating in a 26-win season with an NCAA Tournament appearance and MWC Tournament title.
21. Brian Dutcher (San Diego State) (Last year: 24)
Overall record: 177-58
Final Four in 2023
Long before his own head coaching journey, Dutcher played a major role in a national championship at Michigan in 1989 before bringing the Fab Five to Ann Arbor. Dutcher was a long-time assistant under Steve Fisher both with those Wolverines and with San Diego State. After helping Fisher build the Aztecs program from the ground up, Dutcher has done even more remarkable work as head coach since 2017. Year three was a pandemic-shortened 30-win campaign, though 2023’s run to the national title game certainly earns the spotlight. He then led the Aztecs back to the Sweet Sixteen last season.
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 364 D-I head coaches for 2024-25 season
While football leads the airwaves in recent days and weeks, the college basketball season’s beginnings are less than two months away. The next several weeks wil
Go Gophers!!
