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Category: Preps

Put Medved Resume at Top of U New Millennium Coaches

Posted on March 26, 2025March 26, 2025 by David Shama

 

Niko Medved is now the fifth head men’s basketball coach at the University of Minnesota in the last 25 years.  There’s reason to believe he’s the best since the Clem Haskins era of 1986-1999.

Haskins ran afoul of the NCAA, but the man could coach.  He was outstanding at developing players and superb at motivating them.  Popular with the fans and community, Haskins had winning teams who frequently packed Williams Arena because of their sustained success.

The NCAA investigation that later found the Gophers guilty of violations led to the Haskins firing after the 1999 season.  His successor, Dan Monson, was a wunderkind after two seasons as head coach at Gonzaga where the Bulldogs made the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight in year two.

But Monson, 37 when he was hired, had the worst situation of any Gopher coach this millennium—having to operate under the dark cloud of the Haskins demise and the limitations applied on his program because of NCAA sanctions.  After seven seasons he was fired with a 36-60 Big Ten record.

Tubby Smith rode the prior success of Rick Pitino to a national championship as head coach at Kentucky in  1998.   Smith had been a Pitino assistant but was sliding in on-court success and popularity in Lexington when he left the Wildcats to succeed Monson.

At Minnesota, despite often flirting with an above .500 Big Ten record, Smith couldn’t break through with a winner on the national scene.  He had just two NCAA Tournament teams in six seasons, although his overall record of 124-81 and winning percentage of .605 is the best among Gophers coaches this millennium.

The last two coaches prior to the Medved hire this week could be referred to as trainees.  Pitino’s son, Richard, was hired at 30 years old in 2013 with one prior season of head coaching experience (at small school Florida International).  His successor in 2021, Ben Johnson, had never been a head coach.

On-the-job training didn’t work out well for either.  Pitino won .365 percent of his Big Ten games.  Johnson, whose teams twice finished last in the Big Ten, was fired this month with a 22-57 league record in four seasons (.278 winning percentage).

Smith had the best resume of the U hires through Johnson.  He had won at Kentucky and other stops before Lexington.  At the U he came close to having the right core of players for a breakthrough season.

Now here comes Medved with a resume and experience that is distinctly better than Monson, Pitino and Johnson.  The 51-year-old Minneapolis born Medved has earned sustained success since beginning his head coaching career at Furman in 2013.  Unlike Tubby, he never had the privilege of landing at a blue-blood program, instead having to make the most out of limited resources and legacies.

At Colorado State, his most recent stop, Medved had the Rams in the NCAA Tournament three of the last four years.  He owns an overall career record of 222-172 and was 143-85 at Colorado State where he was the only coach ever to win 20 games or more five times.

Medved photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Medved’s coaching acumen was evident to observers of his team this month in the tournament.  His team played with poise and discipline at both ends of the court. This was a team that was difficult to defeat if holding a lead in the last five minutes of a game.  Over 40 minutes, Medved could be counted on to take timely timeouts, set up effective plays, or change defensive schemes.

His coaching chops have been recognized for years by those who know basketball.  In March of 2021 after Pitino’s dismissal, state basketball legend Tyus Jones tweeted: “Gophers should hire Niko Medved and Dave Thorson ASAP.”

Thorson, the former DeLaSalle coaching icon, was then working for Medved in Fort Collins but soon joined Johnson’s staff.  Thorson will now stay on the U staff, working with Medved again.

Medved grew up attending Gopher games and was a student manager for Haskins in the 1990s.  He was a Gopher assistant coach for the 2006-2007 season.

He is back home now at this “dream job.”  His experience as a head coach, familiarity with the state and U, combined with his motivation to succeed figures to make him more successful than any Gopher head basketball coach in a long time.

With its lack of support from the community and donors, and its losing reputation, U basketball is no blue-blood spot on the college basketball map.  But it doesn’t have to be the mess the U has made of it either.

Minnesota is our only state supported school with Division I basketball and has a population full of alums. The town boasts Fortune 500 companies as landing places for U players who can choose from a diverse curriculum of academic majors at Minnesota. The number of college prospects in state high schools has exploded and improved dramatically in quality in the last 25 years.  The practice facilities are modern and impressive.  The nearly 100-year-old Williams Arena gets too much criticism because the bottom has dropped out of the program. Filled to capacity the place rocks with an energy that can shut up even the harshest critics.

Medved has no illusions about what it will take to win here. “It’s a talent acquisition business,” he said.

College basketball players will have interest in the Gophers if they’re assured of at least a couple of major things.  Is there an opportunity for playing time?  How much compensation goes with being a Gopher?

With a roster depleted by graduation and transfers, it’s clear there are going to be playing opportunities for the 2025-2026 season.

It’s expected the Gophers will be at least competitive, if not better, than other Big Ten rivals when it comes to revenue sharing with players.  Athletic director Mark Coyle reportedly wants revenue sharing money for men’s basketball to be in the top third among Big Ten programs.

The other factor is Name, image and Likeness money for players.  Johnson didn’t have much success in generating NIL money through the Gophers official collective, Dinkytown Athletes.  It’s expected Medved’s personality, commitment to relationships and grit will make him more successful generating money for his program. “I am a big people person,” he said.

Medved won his press conference yesterday.  His character came through when just about the first thing he said was Johnson is welcome around the program.  “Ben is my friend,” Medved said.

When Coyle introduced his new head coach he predicted players will “love” competing for him.  That caring about others is part of what attracted Coyle to Medved and could be considered a piece of his “proven track record.”

Medved, a self-described ultra competitor, promises to “pour his heart and soul” into his dream job.  He knows success won’t come from just him.  “It’s going to take all of us,” he said.

To take the Gophers to a level “never seen before” (his words), Medved is looking for a “team together” approach that includes those inside and outside the U, from players to donors, assistant coaches to season ticket holders, administrators to closet fans, and more.

“We want to be as good as we can be soon. Biggest thing is sustained success,” Medved said.

That would certainly differentiate him from his predecessors.

1 comment

Sources Surface on Minnesota Twins Ownership Sale

Posted on March 19, 2025March 19, 2025 by David Shama

(Updated 3:25 p.m. March 19, 2025)

Enjoy a Wednesday notes column.

A sports industry source who has been in Fort Myers this winter told Sports Headliners he believes there are two entities offering $1.65 billion to buy the Twins franchise from the Pohlad family.

If so, that means Twins representatives have leverage with competing potential buyers. It’s been thought for some time ownership wants more than $1.65 billion to sell the MLB franchise they have owned since 1984.

The asking price might be $1.8 billion. Forbes valued the Twins at $1.46 billion early last year, but that number will increase when new valuations come out soon.

The Orioles sold for a reported $1.7 billion last year.  It could be argued the Twins are the more valuable franchise because the Baltimore-based Orioles are less than 40 miles away from another MLB franchise, the Washington Nationals.

The source described the competing entities as “very much interested” in acquiring the franchise.  He predicted a sale of the club, which relocated to Minnesota from Washington D.C. in 1960, could happen by July, although it’s also been made clear the Pohlads won’t sell for anything less than their desired price range.

Another source outside the organization, who has passionately followed the club for years and knows Twins authorities, said he is told there are more than two potential entities, probably three or four. “At least one is local, I believe,” he said.

That source expressed some confidence that a change in ownership could happen in the next 60 days.

It was widely reported last month that Chicago-based billionaire Mat Ishbia is no longer interested in buying the Twins.  He has a minority interest in the White Sox and the thought is he could be poised to become the majority.

BTW, what’s the over-under for the Twins often frequently injured trio of Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis playing in a combined 300 games or more this season?  Prediction here is a cautious yes!

Qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring could have implications for the Wild next summer.  The Wild will have about $22 million more in salary cap space for next season starting July 1 when NHL free agency begins.  Minnesota wants to present the image of a winner to free agents and after missing the playoffs in 2024 has to be hoping for a successful run in the postseason.

Kirill Kaprizov

Winning at least one playoff series could make the franchise more appealing to free agents. So, too, would word next summer that the team’s superstar, forward Kirill Kaprizov, is signing an extension on his five-year contract that runs through 2025-2026.

The Wild, currently positioned as a wild card entry, is 4-5-1 in the last 10 games but got an important win Monday night at home, 3-1 over the Kings.

Wild owner Craig Leipold ranks No. 11 overall among the 32 NHL owners, per a survey of fans done by The Athletic. In an article by James Mirtle on Monday he wrote: “Leipold was ranked sixth for his willingness to spend on the team and eighth for treatment of the fan base, although he ranked middle-of-the-pack in organizational stability and franchise vision.”

Mirtle noted that Wild patrons had the most responses to the survey of any fan base.

St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter, with his last name on the back of a Wild jersey, walked in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on Monday.  Green Wild jerseys were everywhere among the crowd watching the parade near Rice Park.

The transfer portal opens for college basketball players on Monday.  More than ever where a player lands is about opportunity to play right away and earn significant money.  With the Big Ten and other power conferences expected to budget more than $20 million in revenue sharing to be used on football, men’s basketball and a few other sports, athletes will enrich themselves way beyond just NIL earnings.

Potentially this is a win for the Gophers and their new coach (expected to be Niko Medved, see March 15 Sports Headliners).  In a bidding war with a historical blue-blood program, Minnesota may be able to offer more playing time and money than a Michigan State, Kansas or Kentucky.

Medved’s Colorado State Rams are about a 2.5 points favorite to win their NCAA Tournament opener Friday against Memphis State in Seattle.  TBS will televise the 1 p.m. Minneapolis time game.

Auburn, former college basketball coaches tell Sports Headliners, is the most talented team in the NCAA Men’s Tournament.

Bobby Jackson was in town earlier this month as an assistant coach for the NBA 76ers and the presence of the former University of Minnesota superstar prompted reflection about the all-time starting five for the Golden Gophers. Here’s the Sports Headliners lineup:

Guards, Jackson and Voshon Lenard.  Forwards, Kevin McHale and Lou Hudson.  Center, Mychal Thompson.

How about the all-time state boys’ basketball tournament team?

Guards, Khalid El-Amin and Tyus Jones.  Forwards, Mark Olberding and Chet Holmgren.  Center, Randy Breuer.

P.J. Fleck and others with the Golden Gophers meet with the media tomorrow to preview the opening of spring practice that day.  The Gophers aren’t planning a Spring Game, following the trend of other programs to cancel the traditional gathering.

The public is welcome to attend the 4:15 p.m. practice April 15 at the team’s indoor facility at the Athletes Village.  Dinkytown Athletes members may also attend the 4:15 p.m. practice March 26 at the same location.

Parker Knoll, the senior outfielder transfer from Lawrence University who was a D-III All-American last year, is sixth on the baseball Gophers in batting average at .259 while playing in 16 games and starting 14.

Minnesota, 8-10 overall, hosts 9-6 St. Thomas in a 6 p.m. game tonight at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Gophers are averaging about 17 fans per game in six home games at the bank this winter, per stats.ncaa.org.

The St. Thomas men’s basketball team that finished second in both the Summit League regular season standings and the conference tournament attracted only 20,117 total fans for 14 home games at Schoenecker Arena.  The Tommies averaged 1,437 fans per game, playing to 65 percent of capacity, per stats.ncaa.org.

The Tommies, with a 24-10 overall record and 12-4 in league games, will play in the new Lee and Penny Anderson facility next fall with a basketball capacity of about 5,500.  Despite the program’s winning legacy, dating back to Division III national championships, sell-outs have been rare at Schoenecker.

Remarkable and much-admired Tom Swain passed away earlier this month at age 103.  He was a great advocate for the University of Minnesota and held various leadership positions starting with ticket manager for the Golden Gophers in the 1940s.  He was a gentleman’s gentleman and much admired for how he related to people.

A Minneapolis native and Gopher fan, Tom told Sports Headliners in 2021 that he or his family had owned U football season tickets every year except one since 1921. “The year of my birth,” he said.

Regarding becoming a centenarian, Tom said in the column: “There are such few people that get there (to 100), I feel very gratified. I am very fortunate to have made it this far because growing old is a privilege denied to many. I am not sure why I deserve to get to 100 but I am very grateful.”

7 comments

Vikings Likely Know Answer on Key Sam Darnold Question

Posted on February 4, 2025February 4, 2025 by David Shama

 

Quarterback Sam Darnold resurrected his NFL career in his first season with the Vikings.  The Sporting News and Professional Football Writers Association of America both named him league Comeback Player of the Year for his 2024 performance that included career highs in several passing categories.

Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 regular season record but wasn’t sharp in the two biggest games of the year.  With the NFC No. 1 seed in the playoffs at stake, Darnold and the Vikings lost in their regular season finale to the Lions and then failed to win in Minnesota’s opening playoff game against the Rams. Darnold was a combined 43 of 81 passes in the two games and was sacked nine times by the Rams.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell and his staff convincingly showed the football world this fall their magic in creating elite quarterback play.  The reality that Darnold struggled in his biggest games is mostly on him and his teammates, not the coaching staff.

What KOC and his helpers have likely decided by now is whether Darnold is a solid bet to be able to take the next potential step in his development—excelling in the biggest moments. Does he have the skills and mental makeup to lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl or at least the NFC title game in the near future?

The Vikings almost certainly have a good handle on what the ceiling is for the 27-year-old Darnold, a guy who for six pro seasons was a journeyman with other clubs.

Along with that comes the conundrum of whether J.J. McCarthy, the rookie last year who never saw the field because of his knee injury, is the better bet to take the franchise to championships.  A 10-year-old knows building a Super Bowl contending team begins with a quarterback who is among the best in the NFL.

They have invested emotionally in McCarthy, the No. 10 draft choice in the first round in 2024.  After McCarthy was hurt in the preseason, O’Connell referred to him as the “young franchise quarterback.”

If that is still KOC’s conviction, then the smart move is to franchise or transition tag Darnold for perhaps $40 million and trade him.  There are at least a half dozen NFL teams looking for quarterbacks and the 2025 college draft is weak in QB prospects.

A trade could return player assets to the Vikings and allow the franchise to spend the $40 million upgrading talent at other positions and retaining their own free agents.  Roster needs include the interior offensive and defensive lines and cornerback.

It could be a benefit that McCarthy missed his first year.  He had the opportunity to learn the system while rehabbing from two knee procedures.  He figures to be much more comfortable in the offense in 2025, if healthy.

If the Vikings let Darnold go and gamble on McCarthy, fingers will be crossed in Skol Country that the 22-year-old is ready in every way.  If not, KOC will be looking for another bridge quarterback and trying to work his “magic” on a Darnold 2.0—e.g. Daniel Jones if he elects to stay with the team as a free agent starting next month.

Worth Noting

Daniel House, the college and pro football authority, told Sports Headliners defensive tackle is a deep and quality position in the April college draft.  That could be good news for the Vikings who need help.  Follow House on X @DanielHouseMN and on his Gophers and Vikings websites.  https://gophersguru.com/  http://www.mnvikingscorner.com/

Running back is another position with quality and depth in the draft. Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, who was troublesome to the Gophers and others in the Big Ten, could certainly be available to the Vikings at No. 24 in the first round or after Day 1.  The Vikings need an explosive runner as a successor to 30-year-old Aaron Jones.

Minnesota Breakfast attendees in Naples, Florida heard from first-year University of Minnesota president Rebecca Cunningham last Friday. Minneapolis-based attorney and journalist Marshall Tanick reported via email Dr. Cunningham “primarily focused on health sciences and technology challenges the University faces. But she touched upon Gopher athletics, telling the group of Minnesota expatriates and seasonal visitors that she and athletic Director Mark Coyle are ‘committed to having a competitive Big Ten program.’” She also praised the record 3.4 GPA compiled by U athletes last semester.

Marc Lore

The expectation is that the drawn-out arbitration process to determine majority ownership of the Timberwolves and Lynx will conclude any day now.  If the Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez group wins the litigation with long-time owner Glen Taylor, they still must get no less than 75 percent approval from the NBA Board of Governors.

Based on NBAstore.com data through the first half of the NBA season the Warriors’ Steph Curry had the top selling jersey, while the Wolves’ Anthony Edwards ranked No. 6.

The Timberwolves, trying to establish favorable seeding for the Western Conference playoffs later this year, are in the midst of a five-game homestand. They will also have a five-game home schedule March 1-8.  Both slates will be significant in determining the team’s final record.

After last night’s loss to the Kings at Target Center the Wolves are 0-2 on the homestand that began Saturday night in a loss to the lowly Wizards.  Coming up are games with the Bulls, Rockets and Trail Blazers.

The Wolves, 27-23, are only 12-12 in home games, while their road record is 15-11.

The Wild, 31-18-4 is 20-6-3 on the road and inexplicably 11-12-1 at Xcel Energy Center.

The Wild, who played nine road games in January, have their longest home schedule with seven games March 9-22.  The month has Minnesota playing nine games at the Xcel, the most in any month this season.

If there is a men’s basketball head coaching vacancy at Minnesota or Iowa in the near future, it would be preposterous for hiring authorities to not have John Tauer on the short list of candidates who interest them.  A Division III national champion at St. Thomas, Tauer has superbly guided the Tommies to Division I competition, and his 2025 team is in first place in the Summit League with an 8-1 record (18-6 overall).

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Net Rankings have Iowa No. 64, Minnesota No. 101 and St. Thomas No. 103.

With a deadline of February 27, the U Athletic Department is offering new purchasers of football season tickets two complimentary tickets to both a men’s and women’s Gopher home basketball game.

A concerning trend has developed with the U football staff. Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca left for Rutgers after the 2022 season and defensive coordinator Joe Rossi departed for Michigan State following 2023.  Rossi’s replacement, Corey Hetherman, recently left for Miami and this week comes news that defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere is headed to the NFL Cardinals.

All left for more money, including Ciarrocca who reportedly has received an extension that will pay him $2 million in 2027. Head coach P.J. Fleck attracts quality assistants but it’s difficult to retain them when the salary pool for his staff is at or near the bottom of the 18-member Big Ten Conference.

DeLattiboudere, who becomes the Arizona defensive line coach, played with Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, the Edina native, when the two were Gophers.  Rallis was named defensive coordinator in 2023.

Perhaps the best clinic in the country for high school football coaches, the 2025 MFCA Clinic will be held March 27-29, with headquarters at the DoubleTree Park Place in St. Louis Park. Minnesota Football Coaches Association secretary-treasurer Jim Dotseth reported over 800 registrants so far.  https://www.mnfootballcoaches.com/page/show/2279758-mfca-clinic-information

Almost 500 copies of The Book of Piv were sold on Amazon during a five-week period. The entertaining new book offers storytelling by Minneapolis native Jay Pivec, now retired but a well-traveled basketball coach who is in the NJCAA Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Lily Hubanks, a senior from Madison, Wisconsin, and Amae-Kam Magruder, a sophomore from Anchorage, Alaska, are standouts for the St. Olaf women’s Nordic ski team. They recently represented the United States in the 2025 FISU Winter World University Games in Italy.

Hubanks and Magruder competed in five events as part of the four-member cross country teams for the U.S. It’s believed they are the first females from a Minnesota college to be on American teams in the Winter World University games.

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