Author: David Shama

Sources with knowledge about the University of Minnesota basketball coaching search have been saying school officials are setting an April 1 deadline for selecting a head coach but Athletic Director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners earlier this week the time frame has some flexibility.  Maturi, though, made it clear he wants and expects to have a coach hired by some time in April, likely earlier in the month than later.  

That timeline will allow Minnesota to act with expediency when reviewing candidates.  Minnesota needs to move on its preferred candidate before another school hires that coach.   

Maturi doesn’t want to wait a long time on a candidate who might indicate an interest, then change his mind, leaving the Gophers without a solid second choice.  The timeline seems problematic for hiring an NBA coach such as Flip Saunders. 

“I would allow a professional coach to coach out the year but I don’t know how I could not announce the professional coach being our coach prior to some time in early April,” Maturi said. …“Because if I don’t have a coach by let’s just say…April 15, what are you going to be thinking? Why didn’t I hire coach Smith, coach Jones or coach so-and-so by that time?  There won’t be a lot of easy answers.”  

Saunders, the public’s runaway favorite for the job, has more than two years remaining on his contract to coach the Detroit Pistons and his team will be a popular pick to advance out of the Eastern Conference playoffs to the NBA finals.  The Pistons’ regular season doesn’t even end until April 18.  

 “I can’t see how it’s going to work,” said a source with close ties to the basketball program.  Another source said Saunders’ dream is “to win an NBA championship” and while the former Gopher player and assistant coach has long talked about coaching a college team, the timing isn’t right to leave the NBA. 

The vision of a Saunders led Gopher program provides fans with an adrenaline rush.  His hire would be expected to sell out Williams Arena for the entire 2007-2008 season.  Long term his presence would mean millions of additional dollars for the University in basketball and fund raising revenues.  He brings instant credibility nationally and locally.  News of his hiring could be a lead story on ESPN SportsCenter. 

A Saunders staff might include interim Gopher coach Jim Molinari, former Gopher and Chicago Bull Trent Tucker, and Brian Dutcher, a top recruiter and assistant for Steve Fisher first at Michigan and now at San Diego State.  “That staff puts you on the national map,” a source said.   

Maturi was asked if a high profile coach is more desirable rather than an unknown such as Tim Brewster who he hired as Gopher football coach.

“Yes, on the front end,” he answered.  “I don’t know if Tim Brewster would be accepted on the basketball end and that’s certainly not a knock on Tim Brewster because we’re excited to have him. …In saying that, I do believe I need to make a long term decision.  I can’t be fearful of hiring another Tim Brewster. … I can’t be impatient and not hire who I believe is the best long term person for Minnesota.”

If not Saunders, could the next coach be Reggie Theus?  His name is drawing speculation on a short list that includes Tony Bennett and former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery.  Pressed for a guess as to who the next coach will be, a source said, “Reggie Theus.” 

Theus played 13 seasons in the NBA.  He’s one of several players in league history to score over 19,000 points and have more than 6,000 assists. 

Theus, 49, ended his NBA career in 1991.  Articulate and good looking, Theus appeared on Saturday morning TV’s “Hang Time,” portraying coach Bill Fuller.

Later Theus decided on a coaching career and joined Rick Pitino’s Louisville staff.  He quickly made a reputation for himself as an outstanding recruiter. 

Two years ago former Minnesota Athletic Director McKinley Boston had a basketball program with a 6-24 record at New Mexico State.  As the Aggies’ athletic director he decided to hire Theus after interviewing him and receiving a strong endorsement from Pitino.  “Rick shared with me that he thought he had great upside,” Boston told Sports Headliners during an interview earlier this week. 

Theus has given Boston no reason to regret his decision. Theus’s first team was 16-14 and this season the record is 22-8, including 11-5 in the Western Athletic Conference, a second place finish. 

Boston said Theus has a “five-year roll over” contract and his compensation package is in the $350,000 to $450,000 range.  Other schools are expressing interest in Theus, but Boston said, “I think I would lose him quicker to the NBA than I will to the collegiate programs.” 

The contract stipulates that if Theus leaves the Aggies during the next three years he must pay a penalty clause.  “It’s definitely six figures,” Boston said.  “It’s significant.” 

Boston also said Minnesota hasn’t contacted him to ask permission to talk with Theus, nor has his coach mentioned a contact.  Boston acknowledged, though, it’s commonplace for coaching candidates to be contacted directly by search firms or agents. 

Would Boston be surprised to see Theus at Minnesota?  “Yes, I would be,” he answered. “Just based on conversations that we have had I never got the impression that’s an area, a location (of interest), or that he would be interested in recruiting to.  But who knows?  People change their minds.” 

At Minnesota Theus could earn at least three times his compensation at New Mexico State.  He would also coach in the more prestigious Big Ten Conference but Boston said Theus believes he can win a national championship with the Aggies and that his coach’s next stop is likely the NBA.

Although it hasn’t been announced, look for Johan Santana to be the Twins season opening game pitcher on Monday, April 2.  Santana, twice a Cy Young award winner, will be making only the second opening game start of his career. 

The guess is the Twins will come up with the extra money needed to help Hennepin County pay for acquisition of the land for the new ballpark near Target Center.  An alternate land site will not be pursued. 

Target Center announced this week it will be the site of a boxing card featuring an IBA America’s heavyweight title fight on Friday, April 6, the third boxing promotion at the building in the last several months.   The Xcel Energy Center, with a card headlined by St. Paul’s Jason Litzau, will host boxing on April 25.

“There’s a boxing war going on,” said Rob Leer of Leer Communications, publicist for the Target Center event.  “Xcel is tired of seeing St. Paul boxers fighting in Minneapolis.”  Xcel Energy Center general manager Jack Larson said, “I don’t think there’s a boxing war going on.  I think both buildings are trying to build up boxing.” 

Lou Nanne is providing analysis on telecasts of the state hockey tournament for the 43^rd year.  He has four grandsons, ranging in age from 11-16, who want him to continue in future years with the possibility one or more will be playing while grandpa is in the TV booth. 

Nanne said a strong Minnesota Wild run in the playoffs will depend on the goal tending and defense.  He’s been pleasantly “surprised” by the play of rookie goal tender Niklas Backstrom. 

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster said players came to him this winter and said they wanted to adopt the following motto for the 2007 season: “We will make history again.” Minnesota’s football resume includes 18 Big Ten Conference championships and six national championships. 

The Gophers began spring football practice on March 1, the earliest start anyone can remember.  The annual spring game, open to the public, is Saturday, April 7 at the Metrodome.