STrib: Ben Johnson hopes his Gophers ignore criticism following 0-3 Big Ten start; he has a $2.93 million buyout if fired after this season.

I honestly think there is more nuance here than the "bad hire" - "bad coach" narrative.

Johnson was hired in large part because he was a MN alum with ties to the HS and AAU Coaches - and he would work cheap. One of the main rationales for hiring Johnson was that he would be able to improve in-state HS recruiting.

and then - NCAA approved NIL and unlimited transfers. now HS recruiting has become less important. the whole notion of a developmental program is out the window - it's all about the portal. and like it or not, if you want the top HS recruits or the top portal transfers, you have to have the money to pay them.

in short - a coach like Johnson would not be hired today. the game has changed and a different set of skills are needed. bad timing all around.

and lest we forget - Coyle hired Johnson. Coyle has to share in the responsibility. He's the AD. He cannot just hide in his office and say "they made me hire a black coach. It's not my fault."

If I was a higher-up at MN, I would fire Coyle first. Hire a new AD, and let the new AD hire the new coach.
Lol you're a fucking dumb ass if you would fire Coyle.
 


Lol you're a fucking dumb ass if you would fire Coyle.
Really? Exactly what exceptionally elite thing has Coyle done? What National Championship do you wish to crown him with as glorious leader?
Fleck is .500 in the Big10. Motzgo has yet to win a Naty. Volleyball has fallen short. The women's hockey team has dropped. Wrestling has dropped off. Baseball is bottom dwelling. What makes you crown Coyle as a glorious leader?
 

Really? Exactly what exceptionally elite thing has Coyle done? What National Championship do you wish to crown him with as glorious leader?
Fleck is .500 in the Big10. Motzgo has yet to win a Naty. Volleyball has fallen short. The women's hockey team has dropped. Wrestling has dropped off. Baseball is bottom dwelling. What makes you crown Coyle as a glorious leader?
I'm not sure anyone's crowning him. But he's not going to get fired this year or anytime soon so it's a pointless discussion IMO. Fleck and Motzko are good hires. It appears Coach P and the volleyball coach are as well. Ben and Lindsay were flops. Overall it's not a terrible resume. Nobody cares about Gopher baseball. I expect them to drop the sport within 3 years.
 

I'm not sure anyone's crowning him. But he's not going to get fired this year or anytime soon so it's a pointless discussion IMO. Fleck and Motzko are good hires. It appears Coach P and the volleyball coach are as well. Ben and Lindsay were flops. Overall it's not a terrible resume. Nobody cares about Gopher baseball. I expect them to drop the sport within 3 years.
He won't get fired. Yet, my point still stands that he has done nothing to cause any excitement.
 


Really? Exactly what exceptionally elite thing has Coyle done? What National Championship do you wish to crown him with as glorious leader?
Fleck is .500 in the Big10. Motzgo has yet to win a Naty. Volleyball has fallen short. The women's hockey team has dropped. Wrestling has dropped off. Baseball is bottom dwelling. What makes you crown Coyle as a glorious leader?
That's your standard here? Wow. . .
 

The academia of the U of MN is not shining through. Men’s basketball is a dumpster fire, with all the so called smart people…….maybe a change is in order. Fucking pathetic to say the least of the hierarchy of the UofMN
 


He won't get fired. Yet, my point still stands that he has done nothing to cause any excitement.
Sure....but there is a ton of space between should be fired and build a statue. Coyle hasn't done anything amazing, but those saying he should be fired are wasting their time as well because he isn't anywhere close to being on the hotseat as an AD.

Same thing happened early in the season on the football board after the NC and Iowa games there were fans calling for Fleck to be fired. It's their right to do that but there was a 0.0% change he was going to get fired so it was completely pointless for any fans to act like it should happen.
 




But with three years left on his contract through 2027, he has a $2.93 million buyout if fired after this season.

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Marcus has the facts correct here.

Ben Johnson has two years remaining on his contract after this season (through 2027). Does Marcus realize it is 2025 now?

Originally, Johnson signed a five-year deal, which in 2022 was extended by one year through April of 2027.

Year One: 2021-22 (complete)
Year Two: 2022-23 (complete)
Year Three: 2023-24 (complete)
Year Four: 2024-25 (completing now)
Year Five: 2025-26 (remaining)
Year Six: 2026-27 (remaining)

His contract states that after Year Four the school would owe Ben Johnson 50% of his remaining salary if fired during or at the end of this season. He is paid $1.95 million per year. That means with TWO YEARS (not three) remaining, Ben would be owed $1.95 million x 2 seasons remaining = $3.9m total x 50% = $1.95 million.

I think Marcus somehow figured it at 3 years x $1.95 million = $5.85m x 50% = $2.925 million.

I don't think that is correct.
 
Last edited:

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Marcus has the facts correct here.

Ben Johnson has two years remaining on his contract after this season (through 2027). Does Marcus realize it is 2025 now?

Originally, Johnson signed a five-year deal, which in 2022 was extended by one year through April of 2027.

Year One: 2021-22 (complete)
Year Two: 2022-23 (complete)
Year Three: 2023-24 (complete)
Year Four: 2024-25 (completing now)
Year Five: 2025-26 (remaining)
Year Six: 2026-27 (remaining)

His contract states that after Year Four the school would owe Ben Johnson 50% of his remaining salary if fired during or at the end of this season. He is paid $1.95 million per year. That means with TWO YEARS (not three) remaining, Ben would be owed $1.95 million x 2 seasons remaining = $3.9m total x 50% = $1.95 million.

I think Marcus somehow figured it at 3 years x $1.95 million = $5.85m x 50% = $2.925 million. I don't think that is correct.
Reusee claimed it was $7 million on a podcast today. The local media barely pays attention to Gopher Basketball and still butchers the details.
 

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Marcus has the facts correct here.

Ben Johnson has two years remaining on his contract after this season (through 2027). Does Marcus realize it is 2025 now?

Originally, Johnson signed a five-year deal, which in 2022 was extended by one year through April of 2027.

Year One: 2021-22 (complete)
Year Two: 2022-23 (complete)
Year Three: 2023-24 (complete)
Year Four: 2024-25 (completing now)
Year Five: 2025-26 (remaining)
Year Six: 2026-27 (remaining)

His contract states that after Year Four the school would owe Ben Johnson 50% of his remaining salary if fired during or at the end of this season. He is paid $1.95 million per year. That means with TWO YEARS (not three) remaining, Ben would be owed $1.95 million x 2 seasons remaining = $3.9m total x 50% = $1.95 million.

I think Marcus somehow figured it at 3 years x $1.95 million = $5.85m x 50% = $2.925 million. I don't think that is correct.
Crafty of them to extend that contract in 2022. In actual real world business a 1.95 million dollar error might get you canned. Here, folks think Coyle is good at this.
 



Crafty of them to extend that contract in 2022. In actual real world business a 1.95 million dollar error might get you canned. Here, folks think Coyle is good at this.

In real terms, because of buyout language, the extra year potentially would cost the school an additional $975,000 (50% of $1.95m). Certainly not nothing, but also not $1.95 million.

There is also offset language that if Johnson gets another job in basketball, the school would stop paying him, much like with Pitino.

Bottom line, the cost to fire Johnson during or immediately after this season won't be all that much.
 


Reusee claimed it was $7 million on a podcast today.

Yikes! Not taking into account the 50% buyout......let's says he's owed 100%......Ben Johnson is only owed $3.95 million total after this season. Two seasons at $1.95 million each. Even if Marcus was correct and he had three years left, he would only be owed $5.85 million at 100%.

So, how Pat would suggest $7 million is egregious. But, not shocking as he is completely clueless. He has basically has become a Twitter warrior and not much more.
 
Last edited:

Yikes! Not taking into account the 50% buyout......let's says he's owed 100%......Ben Johnson is only owed $3.95 million total after this season. Two seasons at $1.95 million each. Even if Marcus was correct and he had three years left, he would only be owed $5.85 million.

So, how Pat would suggest $7 million is egregious. But, not shocking as he is completely clueless. He has basically has become a Twitter warrior and not much more.
He was citing Marcus but clearly misunderstood something. I'll say at least he still bothers to mention Gopher Basketball. If not for him and Doogie Skor North would never mention them at all.
 




Top Bottom