Timberwolves – Page 2 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Potulny & Raboin Might Be Top Targets for U Hockey Job

Posted on March 20, 2026March 22, 2026 by David Shama

A trusted source tells Sports Headliners two names are at the top of the candidates list for the University of Minnesota men’s hockey head coach opening. The source said people “close to the program” tell him that Grant Potulny and Garrett Raboin are the top targets of athletics director Mark Coyle. Another source couldn’t confirm that but wasn’t surprised to hear the report.

Potulny, the former Gopher national championship player in 2002 and 2003, was an assistant coach at the U from 2008-2017 under Don Lucia. The 46-year-old was a three-time captain for the Gophers. He’s been coach of the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack since June of 2024. Prior to that he was head coach at Northern Michigan for seven seasons and was WCHA Coach of the Year in his first year. A challenging place to win, he was 128-113-17 with the Wildcats.

Raboin has Gopher roots, too. He was an assistant coach at the U for four years prior to taking over as head coach at Augustana University in Sioux Falls in April of 2022. At Minnesota he was an effective recruiter who helped bring gifted players to Dinkytown. He launched the Augustana program into Division I and had a winning record by his second season. This year the Vikings are even more successful with a 22-11-4 overall record. Raboin is 40 years old.

Bob Motzko parted ways with the Gophers earlier this week. It’s not known what, if anything, Motzko will do careerwise in the foreseeable future. He is 64 and sources say he wants to relax and enjoy himself at least for a while. He has carried the weight of his high pressure job and the tragic loss of his son in a 2021 car accident.

Potulny and Raboin know the culture of the U hockey program. Coyle is likely to see that as a favorable thing. He presumably also wants someone who can excel as a teacher, strategist and recruiter including effective use of Name, Image and Likeness money.

Coyle, who meets with the media to discuss the men’s and women’s hockey head coaching openings on Monday, is likely relying on an advisor or two with puck knowledge to help with the search.

He hired Motzko in March of 2018. That hire didn’t bring the Gophers the national championship they have sought since 2003. This past season the Gophers were 11-22-3 overall and 7-15-2 in Big Ten games. It was the program’s worst season since 1971-72.

Long considered the best hockey coaching job in the nation, sources tell Sports Headliners that is still true. The program’s actual and potential resources include access to high quality high school talent from the state of Minnesota, revenue from the Athletic Department to pay players, high potential NIL money, large and loyal fanbase, quality facilities and a great tradition. The Gopher men’s hockey program is one of the few in the nation that is a money maker for its athletic department.

Motzko reportedly earned a base salary of $750,000. The Gophers can afford to pay their next coach with similar money, making their guy among the best paid college hockey coaches in the country.

Interestingly, Coyle’s name has drawn speculation as a replacement at Kentucky for retiring athletics director Mitch Barnhart. Coyle was deputy assistant athletics director in Lexington under Barnhart from 2006-2011. The Wildcats are basketball blue blood and Coyle is a hoops aficionado who was the top administrator overseeing the Kentucky program.

Coyle’s basketball knowledge helped him identify two outstanding hires now at the U. Women’s coach Dawn Plitzuweit has the Gophers in the NCAA Tournament in her third season. Men’s coach Niko Medved has been lauded for his first-year work in rebuilding the Gophers.

Coyle has been the U AD since 2016. His family has put down roots in St. Paul and as an Iowa native he has spent much of his life in the Upper Midwest.

Worth Noting

Former Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor — Glen Taylor

Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners he doesn’t know if the Mavericks contacted his Timberwolves over a year ago concerning a trade of superstars. The rumor last winter was the Mavericks and Wolves talked about sending Anthony Edwards to Dallas with Luka Doncic coming to Minneapolis.

Doncic, 27 and now playing for the Lakers, leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 33.4. Edwards, 24 and out for a while with a knee injury, is third in scoring at 29.5.

Taylor, who finalized his ownership sale of the Wolves last June, has been spending a lot of time in Naples, Florida. He’s passionate about his former club and “watches all the games” on TV.”

Taylor said he’s long liked the “potential” of the Wolves to go far in the playoffs. He doesn’t think the defense is as effective as it can be.

Former Gophers basketball coach Jim Dutcher, whose 1982 team won the Big Ten championship, turns 93 on April 17. Other than troublesome knees, his health is good. His brother Norman from Alpena, Michigan passed away earlier this year at age 97.

Dave Christian, the Warroad native who was a member of the legendary 1980 U.S. gold medal winning Olympic team, joined hosts Patrick Klinger and Dave Boden on the latest “Behind the Game” show. Google the most important sports event in US history, and the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” comes up No. 1.

The U.S. team had a strong Minnesota influence with native sons like Christian playing and St. Paul’s Herb Brooks coaching and masterminding his amateur players to a stunning semi-final win over the heavily favored Soviet Union before going on to defeat Finland in the finals. “Behind the Game” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuGnBTx-4f0

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Murray Project Can Take KOC Closer to Great QB ‘Whisperers’

Posted on March 15, 2026March 15, 2026 by David Shama

The work of Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell with quarterback reclamation projects Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones is well documented. Now comes the opportunity with new arrival Kyler Murray to take another step toward the company of pro football’s all-time elite quarterback “whisperers.”

Both Darnold and Jones had disastrous experiences with other teams before they came under the tutelage of KOC. Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record in 2024 before bolting in free agency to the Seahawks and playing a huge role in a season and postseason that culminated in a Seattle Super Bowl win over the Patriots last month.

Jones had a shorter time at “KOC U” but like Darnold flourished in Minnesota and joined Sam in leaving in March of 2025. Jones had a comeback season in 2025 with the Colts after his earlier failure with the Giants and Indianapolis reportedly rewarded him this month with a two-year $88 million deal.

Could Murray be the next summa cum laude grad? Although the Cardinals gave up on him, his resume and profile instill optimism among those who want to feel it. In 2019 he was the Pro Football Offensive Rookie of the Year. Twice in his career he was a Pro Bowler.

The 28-year-old Murray, listed at 5-10 and 207 pounds, has quickness of foot and running ability that can bedevil opponents. His ability to turn a potential loss of yardage into a big gain certainly wasn’t lost on the Vikings who picked up the free agent last week on a bargain deal that reportedly has them paying out $1.3 million while the Cardinals are on the line for over $35 million.

Murray, who The Athletic rated as only the 40^th best free agent available this offseason, has his critics. His career passing rating of 92.2 is in the average range. Four times in his career he has thrown for over 3,500 yards. In 2,941 passing attempts he has totaled 121 TD passes with 60 interceptions over seven seasons. He has struggled with injuries including an ACL tear and missed most of last season with a foot injury.

Murray’s critics have questioned his study habits. Beyond his work ethic, concerns have been raised about his short stature and ability to see down field. He’s even been criticized for not running enough.

So the immediate future for Murray, who is on a one-year deal, will be interesting. He grew up a Vikings fan and at his initial presser last week gushed enthusiasm about his new start including being with KOC.

KOC will scrutinize Murray from top to bottom and will tinker with his offense to make it conducive to the new quarterback’s skillset. At the same time, J.J. McCarthy will also have to fit into the overall offense. O’Connell has declared Murray and McCarthy are competing for the starting job. No one has been named No. 1 yet.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell image by David Shama — Kevin O’Connell

As the process develops, O’Connell can take another step toward the elite names among quarterback “whisperers,” especially if the Vikings become a winning team with Murray or McCarthy who will be in his second season as a potential starter. Toward the top of a list that does not yet include KOC, are names from the present and the past: Andy Reid of the Chiefs and Sean Payton of the Broncos and past icons Bruce Arians and Mike Shanahan.

That would be nice company to join.

Worth Noting

The Vikings could see an old friend wearing dark green, gold and white next fall. The Packers are looking for a backup quarterback with Kirk Cousins a possible candidate.

If the 37-year-old continues his career after being released by the Falcons last week, it presumably won’t be just for the money. He has reportedly earned over $351 million playing for the Commanders, Vikings and Falcons, and is among the highest paid NFL players of all-time.

The Vikings have provided $600,000 to the development of high school flag football in Minnesota. That’s from Minneapolis-based attorney and writer Marshall Tanick who reported details via email about a talk given recently by Vikings top marketing executive Martin Nance to a Florida group. Although not yet sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League, the girls’ sport is growing fast, and women’s flag football will debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 games in Los Angeles.

Nance told attendees at the Minnesota Breakfast gathering in Naples that about 45 percent of the franchise’s fan base is women.

Nance, who was a wide receiver with the Vikings in 2006-2007, also shared this nugget: the Vikings “SKOL” chant, entering its 10th year, was derived from the Icelandic national soccer team.

Professional football scouts will have a look at these former Gophers at the University of Minnesota’s Pro Day on Wednesday. Confirmed participants are Nate Becker, Drew Biber, Le’Meke Brockington, Brady Denaburg, Deven Eastern, Jameson Geers, Darius Green, Rushawn Lawrence, Derik LeCaptain, Jalen Logan-Redding, Marcellus Marshall, Jai’Onte’ McMillan, Aluma Nkele, Dylan Ray and Devon Williams.

Football coaches can still register for the acclaimed MFCA Clinic. Headquartered at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis Park, the clinic will be held March 26-28 and is a partnership with the football Gophers. https://www.mnfootballcoaches.com/page/show/2279758-mfca-clinic-information

Presenters will include Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck and selected Gopher assistants, along with St. Thomas head coach Glenn Caruso, St. John’s head coach Gary Fasching and FCS national championship coach Brent Vigen of Montana State.

A hockey aficionado tells Sports Headliners the on-ice vision of defenseman Quinn Hughes is so special it’s the best of any Wild player ever. The authority added Hughes might be the best team leader in franchise history.

The Twin Cities Dunkers scored a coup scheduling Timberwolves and Lynx owner Alex Rodriguez as a speaker later this month. Wolves and Lynx president & CEO Matt Caldwell is a Dunkers member. The sports focused organization dates back to 1948 when it was the Minneapolis Dunkers.

The field for the 2026 National Invitation Tournament will be announced tonight starting at 8:30 p.m. Minneapolis time on ESPN2. Both the Gophers and St. Thomas men are eligible for consideration, with some fans wishful of a matchup at Williams Arena.

The women Gophers, 22-8, are assured of an NCAA Tournament berth and will host first and second round games at Williams Arena. The NCAA Tournament bracket, matchups, dates and times will be announced tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Kevin Kernan, a renowned national baseball authority and guest last week on Dan Barreiro’s KFNX Radio show, was asked how the Pohlad owned Twins are regarded nationally. He labeled the ownership a “clown show” and said only the Pirate ownership is disdained more.

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Timberwolves & Lynx CEO Says Arena in Minneapolis the Goal

Posted on December 30, 2025December 30, 2025 by David Shama

New majority Timberwolves and Lynx owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez announced the hiring of CEO Matthew Caldwell late last summer. The former front office executive of the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Panthers, Caldwell is tasked with figuring out where the two Minnesota pro basketball teams will play in the future.

Caldwell has a newsworthy 10-year deal from his bosses to lead the Wolves and Lynx. It might take that long to see the doors open on a new home for the teams who play now at the NBA’s second oldest arena.

Target Center opened in 1990 and was privately financed by Wolves owners Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner. The building is now owned by the city of Minneapolis whose citizens recently re-elected Jacob Frey as mayor.

Insiders seem certain Frey’s election kept in play the possibility a new arena can be built within the city limits. Before the election, Frey commented about his support for such a facility if it was privately financed. He values the millions of people Target Center attracts, generating tax and business revenues helping fuel the downtown economy. But he also knows the aging facility still has debt from renovation about eight years ago.

Frey’s primary mayoral foe, Democrat Socialist Omar Fateh, “nixed both direct cash and indirect tax relief types of financial aid” for a new building, according to a Minneapolis Times article by Marshall Tanick in October. Few arena authorities believe a Fateh mayorship, with his emphasis on progressive policies regarding wages, rent, the homeless, transit and the environment, would have been interested in using city dollars even for infrastructure adjacent to a new building.

Asked by Sports Headliners if for certain the Wolves and Lynx want to remain in the city, Caldwell said: “That’s the goal. We’re in a (Target Center) lease right now for 10 more years in Minneapolis. I look forward to working with the mayor and the council and hopefully we can find a good location for everyone.”

Multiple sites for a new arena have drawn speculation including City Center, the Farmers Market near downtown, the Star Tribune printing property in the North Loop and the former Graco site in Northeast Minneapolis. The latter is a potential 40-acre site that could be attractive but there are concerns about traffic flow. It’s not impossible the Target Center site could be under consideration for either a new building or a renovation.

At this early stage of the process, Caldwell said there are many options when asked about the Target Center site. “I am not sure yet. We’re still looking through…different locations but everything is on the table. I just started a few months ago, so I am trying to get to know everyone. We want to take our time and make sure we pick the right site. But at the same time we want to do what’s best for the community and we gotta get a lot of feedback.”

Timberwolves & Lynx CEO Matt Caldwell — Matt Caldwell photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves

Is there a commitment from ownership to financing a new arena privately? “Not yet,” Caldwell answered. “No…like I mentioned earlier all options are on the table. So, we just gotta see. Marc and Alex are fully dedicated to building a new arena, and they’ve committed we’re staying in Minnesota. And we’re just trying to find the right site and see what the best deal is for everyone.”

Ownership’s stance is a new facility is needed to better serve the public and make the two franchises more business viable with the amenities and features already present in new NBA arenas such as the Chase Center in San Francisco and the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Both were privately financed and the latter reportedly cost about $2 billion.

There has been speculation sites outside of Minneapolis could figure into the puzzle of a new building and location. One intriguing location whispered about is near the Mall of America in Bloomington. That area fits in with the goal of NBA team owners to have surrounding land that can offer additional revenue streams from sources such as lodging, retail and perhaps gambling.

A Bloomington location, seen as a more politically neutral site between Minneapolis and St. Paul, might attract tax dollars not only from that city but also the state which is being pitched for major renovations to Grand Casino Arena, the home of the NHL Wild since 2000. A new arena hosting the basketball teams and the Wild could have considerable public support and political backing from politicians representing areas other than the Twin Cities.

Timeline? Caldwell said the goal is to both work through the arena process “as fast as possible” but also don’t “rush it.” There’s a lot of money at stake for various entities with the project and all kinds of details from site and architectural selection, to financing to infrastructure, from permitting to environmental concerns, and the list goes on. That’s why Caldwell said that even after the first ceremonial groundbreaking occurs, it will probably be three years before the doors open to the public.

Caldwell’s contract with his owners gives him security and confidence to work through the monumental project. So, too, does his personal background with experiences at West Point as a cadet, serving in the Army, working for Goldman Sachs and his successful tenure with the Panthers.

Asked about who he is and his leadership development, Caldwell started talking first about being at West Point: “They kind of break you down and build you back up. …Get rid of as much ego that you have, and then a lot of it is about leading by example. A lot of it is about never tell your people or your soldiers to do something that you couldn’t do, right? …You have high standards, but you care about your people, and people respond to that.

“And that’s always stayed with me, whether I was in finance or sports. Since I left the Army, I’ve always tried to keep that sense of camaraderie. That sense of leading from the front at the end of the day. So, it’s really important and it’s a foundation of how I operate.”

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