BleedGopher
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per Hamilton:
Mike Boynton, Oklahoma State head coach. It’s absolutely worth a call to the Cowboys’ 39-year-old coach, who has built a winner despite NCAA infractions (of someone else’s doing) issues swirling around the program. Oklahoma State would’ve been good this year even without Cade Cunningham on board. Boynton is a Brooklyn native who has mostly worked in the South and in Texas, so it’s not like he has some abiding tie to Stillwater. He makes less than $2 million a year. Oklahoma State is facing a postseason ban in 2022. If you’re looking for someone who won despite adverse circumstances, and who might be able to lure more of those five-star recruits to Williams Arena, the timing might be right on both sides.
Brian Dutcher, San Diego State head coach. The big tell is the fairly sizable buyout in Dutcher’s new deal at his current place of employment … that drops to a wholly manageable $1 million for one particular job: Minnesota men’s basketball coach. Dutcher, of course, is a Minnesota native who attended the school and whose father, Jim, coached the Gophers for 11 seasons. Winning 75 percent of his games and proving himself to be an elite defensive mind recommends Dutcher for the gig. One thing does not: He’ll be 62 in October. Not ancient, but not the potential long-term solution other candidates might be.
Anthony Grant, Dayton head coach. Again, Coyle would be wise to inquire here, but chances are it’d be a tough sell. Grant has done the power-conference job thing and now has recruiting cooking at his alma mater, with top 50 prospect DaRon Holmes signed to play for the Flyers next season. It’s a mid-major program, yes, but it has many of the trappings of a major-conference gig and, according to the USA Today coaches’ salary database, Grant makes nearly $2 million a year. He’s in a great situation at a place that loves him. Coyle will have to come prepared with a robust sales pitch if this is his guy.
Niko Medved, Colorado State head coach. How many boxes would you like to check? Medved is 47. He’s a Minneapolis native who grew up in the suburb of Roseville. He went to Minnesota. He was an assistant at Minnesota for one season. More important, Medved has demonstrated the uncanny ability to rebuild. Furman went from nine wins to 23 in four seasons. Colorado State improved by eight wins across Medved’s first two seasons there and went 18-6 this season, the second team out of the NCAA Tournament. He’ll get the culture right and be as invested as anyone possibly could be. The lone drawback? Zero NCAA Tournament appearances as a head coach. It shouldn’t be disqualifying, given the situations Medved inherited, but it’s something to note.
Ryan Saunders, former Minnesota Timberwolves coach. There was a time when people harbored dreams that the late Flip Saunders would peace out on coaching the NBA and return to his alma mater and bring it to glory. That didn’t happen, but it still could wind up a family business. Ryan Saunders is another perfect “One Of Us” candidate — if you live in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, you understand — who was a walk-on at Minnesota and held down an NBA coaching job. Of course, he went 43-94 doing that job. If you give him a pass for being one of the youngest coaches in the league and are fairly sure he’s got the chops, then at 34, he offers energy and name recognition in the recruiting circles and is a possible generational hire.
Craig Smith, Utah State head coach. If you’re looking for the automatic yes, this is another place where you get it. Smith is a Minnesota native with extensive coaching experience in the upper Midwest. Also, he wins. A lot. Utah State is 62-18 in Smith’s three seasons. South Dakota won 26 games in Smith’s final season there. The Aggies have evolved into a top-25 defensive unit in Smith’s third season, and although a lot of that is owed to Neemas Queta being on the roster, it’s the backbone you want when you’re starting over with a new coach. No one will ever be the Next P.J. Fleck, because Minnesota’s football coach is a phenomenon unto himself. But if that’s the general template Coyle prefers, then Smith is the fit.
theathletic.com
Go Gophers!!
Call list
(In alphabetical order)Mike Boynton, Oklahoma State head coach. It’s absolutely worth a call to the Cowboys’ 39-year-old coach, who has built a winner despite NCAA infractions (of someone else’s doing) issues swirling around the program. Oklahoma State would’ve been good this year even without Cade Cunningham on board. Boynton is a Brooklyn native who has mostly worked in the South and in Texas, so it’s not like he has some abiding tie to Stillwater. He makes less than $2 million a year. Oklahoma State is facing a postseason ban in 2022. If you’re looking for someone who won despite adverse circumstances, and who might be able to lure more of those five-star recruits to Williams Arena, the timing might be right on both sides.
Brian Dutcher, San Diego State head coach. The big tell is the fairly sizable buyout in Dutcher’s new deal at his current place of employment … that drops to a wholly manageable $1 million for one particular job: Minnesota men’s basketball coach. Dutcher, of course, is a Minnesota native who attended the school and whose father, Jim, coached the Gophers for 11 seasons. Winning 75 percent of his games and proving himself to be an elite defensive mind recommends Dutcher for the gig. One thing does not: He’ll be 62 in October. Not ancient, but not the potential long-term solution other candidates might be.
Anthony Grant, Dayton head coach. Again, Coyle would be wise to inquire here, but chances are it’d be a tough sell. Grant has done the power-conference job thing and now has recruiting cooking at his alma mater, with top 50 prospect DaRon Holmes signed to play for the Flyers next season. It’s a mid-major program, yes, but it has many of the trappings of a major-conference gig and, according to the USA Today coaches’ salary database, Grant makes nearly $2 million a year. He’s in a great situation at a place that loves him. Coyle will have to come prepared with a robust sales pitch if this is his guy.
Niko Medved, Colorado State head coach. How many boxes would you like to check? Medved is 47. He’s a Minneapolis native who grew up in the suburb of Roseville. He went to Minnesota. He was an assistant at Minnesota for one season. More important, Medved has demonstrated the uncanny ability to rebuild. Furman went from nine wins to 23 in four seasons. Colorado State improved by eight wins across Medved’s first two seasons there and went 18-6 this season, the second team out of the NCAA Tournament. He’ll get the culture right and be as invested as anyone possibly could be. The lone drawback? Zero NCAA Tournament appearances as a head coach. It shouldn’t be disqualifying, given the situations Medved inherited, but it’s something to note.
Ryan Saunders, former Minnesota Timberwolves coach. There was a time when people harbored dreams that the late Flip Saunders would peace out on coaching the NBA and return to his alma mater and bring it to glory. That didn’t happen, but it still could wind up a family business. Ryan Saunders is another perfect “One Of Us” candidate — if you live in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, you understand — who was a walk-on at Minnesota and held down an NBA coaching job. Of course, he went 43-94 doing that job. If you give him a pass for being one of the youngest coaches in the league and are fairly sure he’s got the chops, then at 34, he offers energy and name recognition in the recruiting circles and is a possible generational hire.
Craig Smith, Utah State head coach. If you’re looking for the automatic yes, this is another place where you get it. Smith is a Minnesota native with extensive coaching experience in the upper Midwest. Also, he wins. A lot. Utah State is 62-18 in Smith’s three seasons. South Dakota won 26 games in Smith’s final season there. The Aggies have evolved into a top-25 defensive unit in Smith’s third season, and although a lot of that is owed to Neemas Queta being on the roster, it’s the backbone you want when you’re starting over with a new coach. No one will ever be the Next P.J. Fleck, because Minnesota’s football coach is a phenomenon unto himself. But if that’s the general template Coyle prefers, then Smith is the fit.
Brian Hamilton’s hire
Because it’s a Big Ten job, you probably have to make Boynton say no. There’s something to be said for understanding power-league demands. But if that’s what you hear, you have Niko Medved on the other line and offer him the gig immediately.
Minnesota basketball coaching candidates: Ryan Saunders, Niko Medved, Mike Boynton are names on our list
The coaches Minnesota should look to as it hires a replacement for Richard Pitino include several mid-major head coaches.
Go Gophers!!
