Shooter: Alumni and assorted boosters are pushing Ryan Saunders, the ex-Gopher who is an assistant for the Denver Nuggets, for the Gophers head job.

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BleedGopher

BleedGopher

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Per Shooter:

—Alumni and assorted boosters are pushing Ryan Saunders, the ex-Gopher who is an assistant for the Denver Nuggets, for the Gophers head job if there is a coaching change at season’s end.

www.twincities.com

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Who wouldn’t want a bright, young coach whose teams are 34-18 in his first three seasons as an NFL head coach?
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Go Gophers!!
 






I don't hate the idea as much as some on here, but I'd prefer a proven winner as a head coach at the D1 level. He is an assistant at a winning NBA team, so hopefully he's getting a chance to see what right looks like at a high level in terms of in game coaching, but the recruiting aspect of college is so different I'd be worried about it translating.
 

Stop with the MN connection BS. Why are boosters and alumni pining for some MN connection. I heard Bud Grant's granddaughter's cousins, brother in law's guide dog is available. Just go after a normal proven target who has HEAD COACHING experience. Any HC from a winning mid major program would be fine. A HC job at a P6 is an upgrade ($$) from most if not all mid major type programs.
 

Big Dawg said:
Stop with the MN connection BS. Why are boosters and alumni pining for some MN connection. I heard Bud Grant's granddaughter's cousins, brother in law's guide dog is available. Just go after a normal proven target who has HEAD COACHING experience. Any HC from a winning mid major program would be fine. A HC job at a P6 is an upgrade ($$) from most if not all mid major type programs.
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What school is the dog at now?
 

Seems like the perfect solution to end the 25-year death spiral for this program.
  • He’s never coached a game at the college level
  • Has a .314 career winning percentage as a NBA head coach
  • Hasn’t been a head coach since 2021
  • He’s one of us!
Ryan Saunders wouldn’t be considered as a head coach candidate at any other D1 program. Why do we always do this to ourselves?
 




Great idea. Never recruited. Never really played. At least 15 years removed from the college game. Was badly over matched in his one HC gig.

Now....if he can get his pal KAT to leave the Knicks and join the gophers...
 

They need to make a splash with this hire with a proven big name. Think back to 2007 when Tubby Smith came and the instant buzz and interest that he created. While he eventually fizzled, that excitement was exactly what the program needed at the time and he elevated the program at least back to mediocrity and competence.
 




It should not be hard for a Big Ten school to hire a coach who has made the NCAA Tournament with a roster he put together.

After that you start discussing NIL, recruiting experience and strategy, thoughts on an aging arena and rekindling the brand around the program.

I don't see Ryan Saunders ticking any of those boxes except maybe the "branding" portion which is further down the list (just win baby). If he wants an NCAA job it's time to get off the Nuggets bench and into the college game.
 


Swap Minnesota for Missouri. Then ask yourself "would this person be on the short list at Missouri?" If the answer is no, cross them off.

Ryan Saunders would not be a passing thought to any other Power 5 program.

FWIW this applies to Tauer too, but I'd take him every day of the week over Saunders.
 




howeda7 said:
I like him but still no. No NBA guys. The next coach better have a minimum of five years of experience as a division 1 head coach.
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5 years of building a wining program... we can't just insert a coach who has won at other stops. He needs to be able to take a blank sheet of paper and turn it into a beautiful oragami penguin
 

Off-GridTNgopher said:
5 years of building a wining program... we can't just insert a coach who has won at other stops. He needs to be able to take a blank sheet of paper and turn it into a beautiful oragami penguin
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True but I think that's almost every coach in 2025.
 






howeda7 said:
I like him but still no. No NBA guys. The next coach better have a minimum of five years of experience as a division 1 head coach.
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Totally agree, just saying bickerstaff is best option in this specific situation of hiring an ex gopher with NBA coaching experience.
 




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