Assistant Coach Ben Johnson hired as head coach of Minnesota

[Drew]

https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1374089198303649800

Welp, there goes one great recruiter.

[Strange Brew]

https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1374089198303649800

Welp, there goes one great recruiter.

Hey Luke. You busy next year?

[GoMuskies]

Wut? Congrats Ben! But wow.

[Xville]

I didn’t even know he was a candidate for the job...interesting. Good for him, but maybe now Steele can grab someone that has a clue how to x and o

[drudy23]

Is this guy ready for the big chair? Perhaps he is, just never really stood out on the sidelines.

[AviatorX]

I didn’t even know he was a candidate for the job...interesting. Good for him, but maybe now Steele can grab someone that has a clue how to x and o

Seems like Johnson may have been a decent assistant coach, or at least he fooled the Minnesota AD.

[AviatorX]

Weird situation. We all get our bloodletting and some turnover on the staff, and at the same time the opening becomes pretty attractive (the last guy got a head job in the Big 10). Good for Johnson.

[GoMuskies]

If we had an actual competent Big Ten head coach on our bench the last three years and still sucked this bad, yikes.

I wouldn't be particularly confident if I were a Gopher.

[ThrowDownDBrown]

https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1374089198303649800

Welp, there goes one great recruiter.

We've got plenty of recruiters on staff, including the head coach. The old staff was clueless on how to coach during games, so let's hope Travis doesn't just hire another "great recruiter."

[BandAid]

Congratulations to Ben!

I know he has a reputation as a recruiter, but I can’t recall any of our current players as being one of his targets. Can someone more adept at our recruiting fill me in?

[muskiefan82]

Or, as some have said (I have no actual knowledge), Steele just didn't LISTEN to them

[AviatorX]

Congratulations to Ben!

I know he has a reputation as a recruiter, but I can’t recall any of our current players as being one of his targets. Can someone more adept at our recruiting fill me in?

Freemantle and Colby Jones. They're decent.

[Drew]

I didn’t even know he was a candidate for the job...interesting. Good for him, but maybe now Steele can grab someone that has a clue how to x and o

I love the baseless insults. I read a profile on him and he seemed like a very intelligent guy that has likely forgotten more about the game than you will ever know.

[BandAid]

Freemantle and Colby Jones. They're decent.

Ah, I thought Jones was another Hayes recruit, which is why I was mostly blanking.

[xudash]

https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1374089198303649800

Welp, there goes one great recruiter.

Gopher fans are pleased - NOT! -- https://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/threads/gophers-hiring-ben-johnson.100900/

[GoMuskies]

Freemantle and Colby Jones. They're decent.

If he finds a way to take either of those guys with him, we are truly hosed, eh!

[drudy23]

Gopher fans are pleased - NOT! -- https://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/threads/gophers-hiring-ben-johnson.100900/

Yikes.

[GoMuskies]

If Steele decided he wanted to do something with his life besides coach basketball and resigned, would WE be happy with this hire?

I'm thinking we wouldn't be thrilled either.

[xuphan]

Yikes.

Poor Steele. 3 of his players are transferring and now one of his assistant coaches is leaving. Poor guy has a lot of work to do this offseason.

[AviatorX]

If Steele decided he wanted to do something with his life besides coach basketball and resigned, would WE be happy with this hire?

I'm thinking we wouldn't be thrilled either.

It's a seriously strange hire. Nothing like hiring a long time assistant of the coach you just fired. I guess the theory is under Johnson local guys will stay home?

[drudy23]

It's a seriously strange hire. Nothing like hiring a long time assistant of the coach you just fired. I guess the theory is under Johnson local guys will stay home?

It's Minnesota basketball - doesn't seem like a priority there.

[Xville]

I love the baseless insults. I read a profile on him and he seemed like a very intelligent guy that has likely forgotten more about the game than you will ever know.

Baseless? Have you seen the results the past 3 years? Get real. Your first comment was there goes one great recruiter....not there goes one great x and o assistant coach.

[BandAid]

It's Minnesota basketball - doesn't seem like a priority there.

Having lived in Minnesota for the last couple of years - I have never heard a single person mention Minnesota basketball. Football, yes. High school hockey, a whole bunch. Minnesota basketball? Not once.

[American X]

If Xavier had an assistant for three years good enough to be a Big Ten head coach, should I be aware that he existed?

[XUBison]

Gopher fans are pleased - NOT! -- https://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/threads/gophers-hiring-ben-johnson.100900/

This is interesting... I live in an area that picks up a lot of sports media out of Minneapolis. Goopher fans were super high on him and borderline devastated when he left three years ago for X. They’ve had a lukewarm relationship with Pitino at best, and many Goophs thought Johnson had the chops to one day take over the reigns. I remember listening to Dan Barreiro’s number one rated sports show out of the Twin Cities when X announced the hire. Barreiro dedicated a segment to Johnson’s departure, and I distinctly remember him lamenting, “well, it’s too bad, but he’s simply going to a more powerful program.” My, how three short years can change perspective.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

Incredibly strange and odd hire.

[GoMuskies]

Incredibly strange and odd hire.

The strangest hire I can recall was when K-State handed their job to Frank Martin when Huggins left. Martin was a complete nobody at the time, and it seemed like a desperate move to get Beasley to still come to K-State. That obviously (and surprisingly) worked out very well for K-State.

Perhaps it works out similarly for Minnesota.

[Masterofreality]

This is interesting... I live in an area that picks up a lot of sports media out of Minneapolis. Goopher fans were super high on him and borderline devastated when he left three years ago for X. They’ve had a lukewarm relationship with Pitino at best, and many Goophs thought Johnson had the chops to one day take over the reigns. I remember listening to Dan Barreiro’s number one rated sports show out of the Twin Cities when X announced the hire. Barreiro dedicated a segment to Johnson’s departure, and I distinctly remember him lamenting, “well, it’s too bad, but he’s simply going to a more powerful program.” My, how three short years can change perspective.

The only Minny fans on their Board who seem supportive point to his Minnesota AAU connections.
But wait. In 3 years he hasn't brought a single Minnesota state kid to Xavier, if he's that great?
Where is Rick Carter to land another JP Macura?

Most are devastated with this hire for them. I just say Bye Bye Ben.

[xukeith]

Can you imagine the anger if X announced they were hiring the up and coming assistant from San Diego St or Wisconsin Green Bay??

[Xavgrad08]

Good for Ben, but this is a risky hire. It sounds like Money was a factor? Minnesota went cheap.

[Masterofreality]

Can you imagine the anger if X announced they were hiring the up and coming assistant from San Diego St or Wisconsin Green Bay??

What exactly on Ben Johnson’s resume screams “up and coming”?

[xavierj]

What exactly on Ben Johnson’s resume screams “up and coming”?

Not sure. A big 10 school is hiring him so someone sees something in him. I know you know more than everyone about basketball so you should get ahold of the AD and let him know he is making a big mistake.

[paulxu]

Gopher fans are pleased - NOT! -- https://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/threads/gophers-hiring-ben-johnson.100900/

It's like they started a "Fire Johnson" thread...and he's not even there yet.

[joe titan]

Been said often that any competent AD has a short list of coaches to hire in case he needs to fill a vacancy. For better or worse Minnesota's AD had Ben at the top of the list. XU/Steele boasted he was a great hire when he joined the staff and would be HC sometime in near future but now that his alma mater gives him a chance, he never was all that.

[noteggs]

Good for Ben! Nice to see others respecting our program and what potential coaching talent we may have here.

[XUBison]

Can you imagine the anger if X announced they were hiring the up and coming assistant from San Diego St or Wisconsin Green Bay??

So we’re no longer interested in hiring up and coming assistants from Xavier? Good.

[Xville]

Not sure. A big 10 school is hiring him so someone sees something in him. I know you know more than everyone about basketball so you should get ahold of the AD and let him know he is making a big mistake.

Do you think just because someone is an AD they know jack squat about basketball?

[XU_Lou]

Do you think just because someone is an AD they know jack squat about basketball?

Sounds like you're pissed because he didn't hire you???

[XU 87]

The only Minny fans on their Board who seem supportive point to his Minnesota AAU connections.
But wait. In 3 years he hasn't brought a single Minnesota state kid to Xavier, if he's that great?
Where is Rick Carter to land another JP Macura?

Most are devastated with this hire for them. I just say Bye Bye Ben.

He has done a good job recruiting in his short time here. He now has landed a Big Ten gig. Why do you feel it necessary to try to denigrate him?

[Olsingledigit]

Congratulations to Ben!

I know he has a reputation as a recruiter, but I can’t recall any of our current players as being one of his targets. Can someone more adept at our recruiting fill me in?

He moved Odom from Ga Tech (or was it Georgia) to X when he moved to X.

[xu82]

It's Minnesota basketball - doesn't seem like a priority there.

Maybe he’s a magician when it comes to fixing snowmobiles?

[xavierj]

Do you think just because someone is an AD they know jack squat about basketball?

I would imagine he mows more about the process and the reason he hired him more than any of us clowns on this message board. Ben has a lot of contacts and is well respected. Was considered a big move for Xavier to get him. He got Travis an in home visit with Matthew Hurt and his family.

[IM4X]

The strangest hire I can recall was when K-State handed their job to Frank Martin when Huggins left. Martin was a complete nobody at the time, and it seemed like a desperate move to get Beasley to still come to K-State. That obviously (and surprisingly) worked out very well for K-State.

Perhaps it works out similarly for Minnesota.

Martin looks and kind of acts (as I recall) like a drill Sergeant. So there is that. Pretty much he antithesis of Steele. Not that being a tough guy always necessarily translate to giantess more wins. But like Higgins and Knight can work out pretty nicely - at least in wins.

[IM4X]

Best of luck to Ben! Thanks for your time and effort and thanks for being a part of X!

[XUBison]

Sounds like you're pissed because he didn't hire you???

I think you might be the weirdest poster here.

[XUBison]

I would imagine he mows more about the process and the reason he hired him more than any of us clowns on this message board. Ben has a lot of contacts and is well respected. Was considered a big move for Xavier to get him. He got Travis an in home visit with Matthew Hurt and his family.

Correct. And MN AD is well regarded.

[xu82]

Best of luck to Ben! Thanks for your time and effort and thanks for being a part of X!

Agreed! Hard to know what happens behind the scenes, but he was a producer on the recruiting front. That will certainly be missed.

[Masterofreality]

Not sure. A big 10 school is hiring him so someone sees something in him. I know you know more than everyone about basketball so you should get ahold of the AD and let him know he is making a big mistake.

You know. You could just try to answer a legitimate question that not only I but many Minnesota fans and college basketball observers are asking, rather than just looking for the cheap shot opportunity.
-A) He worked for the coach who was just fired.
-B) He went other places with minimal success.
-C) He came to Xavier, hasn’t had an NCAA Tournament in 3 years.
-D) Allegedly had great recruiting ties with Minnesota AAU coaches but Xavier hasn’t had a recruit from Minny since JP Macura, who came because of Rick Carter.
-E) He was responsible for developing guards. Tell me who really got better under him? Q and KyKy certainly did not. Scruggy was about the same. Dwon and Colby were freshmen so hard to tell. Kunkel shot better when he was at Belmont. Castlin? Bishop left. Bryce Moore? Don’t see anything there.

And, ok. Wow. Got an in-home with Matthew Hurt. Did Matthew Hurt come to Xavier? Oh. No.
Again. What about his resume screams up and comer, expert?

[xavierj]

You know. You could just try to answer a legitimate question that not only I but many Minnesota fans and college basketball observers are asking, rather than just looking for the cheap shot opportunity.
-A) He worked for the coach who was just fired.
-B) He went other places with minimal success.
-C) He came to Xavier, hasn’t had an NCAA Tournament in 3 years.
-D) Allegedly had great recruiting ties with Minnesota AAU coaches but Xavier hasn’t had a recruit from Minny since JP Macura, who came because of Rick Carter.
-E) He was responsible for developing guards. Tell me who really got better under him? Q and KyKy certainly did not. Scruggy was about the same. Dwon and Colby were freshmen so hard to tell. Kunkel shot better when he was at Belmont. Castlin? Bishop left. Bryce Moore? Don’t see anything there.

And, ok. Wow. Got an in-home with Matthew Hurt. Did Matthew Hurt come to Xavier? Oh. No.
Again. What about his resume screams up and comer, expert?

Again I didn’t hire him and wasn’t involved with the process. You should voice your displeasure with the AD who hired him. Not sure why you have so much hatred to everything Xavier. Yeah things need to be better but get a grip. I hope Ben kills it at Minnesota. He brought some good talent to Xavier. As for getting better, the guards took care of the ball better than any Xavier team in recent memory. Did he help with that, I have no idea but I am not going to be pissed because school in a power conference is giving him a chance. Maybe the AD is thinking outside the box rather than do what everyone else does. I wish him well. Maybe you should have applied.

[Masterofreality]

Again I didn’t hire him and wasn’t involved with the process. You should voice your displeasure with the AD who hired him. Not sure why you have so much hatred to everything Xavier. Yeah things need to be better but get a grip. I hope Ben kills it at Minnesota. He brought some good talent to Xavier. As for getting better, the guards took care of the ball better than any Xavier team in recent memory. Did he help with that, I have no idea but I am not going to be pissed because school in a power conference is giving him a chance. Maybe the AD is thinking outside the box rather than do what everyone else does. I wish him well. Maybe you should have applied.

I just asked a simple question then gave reasons for my question in response to another post. You immediately looked for a cheap shot with no refuting what I was getting at with facts. I have no displeasure. Just wondering what sets him apart here.
I love Xavier and want it to succeed, and I back it up with plenty of jack, and unfortunately neither Graves nor Johnson has contributed to the continuation of success. How exactly am I hating on Xavier Mr. Expert? The dude is gone to somewhere else. Somewhere else that will try to beat our brains in in both recruiting and a Gavitt Game sometime probably. He’s not part of Xavier anymore, so your “point” is ludicrous.
By the way. I’m not the only one on here or elsewhere among Xavier fandom that has considered whether or not this program has been badly served by it’s Assistant Coaches.
Minnesota can hire whoever they want and good luck to Johnson, but lack of player development, questionable offensive schemes and losing important winnable games has become the norm around here, in case you haven’t noticed.
Either the Assistants have badly served Steele or Steele just doesn’t listen to them. But it is obvious new blood is needed around here. And I can’t wait to see who it is.

Steele had better choose wisely. His leash is short.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Now if Steele can just get the rest of his asst a job elsewhere. Maybe he will surprise everybody and be great at Minn. then when Steele get fired we can hire him back!

[xukeith]

I just asked a simple question then gave reasons for my question in response to another post. You immediately looked for a cheap shot with no refuting what I was getting at with facts. I have no displeasure. Just wondering what sets him apart here.
I love Xavier and want it to succeed, and I back it up with plenty of jack, and unfortunately neither Graves nor Johnson has contributed to the continuation of success. How exactly am I hating on Xavier Mr. Expert? The dude is gone to somewhere else. Somewhere else that will try to beat our brains in in both recruiting and a Gavitt Game sometime probably. He’s not part of Xavier anymore, so your “point” is ludicrous.
By the way. I’m not the only one on here or elsewhere among Xavier fandom that has considered whether or not this program has been badly served by it’s Assistant Coaches.
Minnesota can hire whoever they want and good luck to Johnson, but lack of player development, questionable offensive schemes and losing important winnable games has become the norm around here, in case you haven’t noticed.
Either the Assistants have badly served Steele or Steele just doesn’t listen to them. But it is obvious new blood is needed around here. And I can’t wait to see who it is.

Steele had better choose wisely. His leash is short.
You are omitting any evaluation of Jonas Hayes and Dante Jackson.
Do you have the same opinion of these 2 as you do Graves and Johnson? Freemantle improved a ton so Hayes gets the nice compliment? I have never known much about any assistant.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

Do you think just because someone is an AD they know jack squat about basketball?

The answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

Correct. And MN AD is well regarded.

This is confusing...Mark Coyle is anything but "well regarded."

I'll save you countless articles about his managing of that department, and those on his lack of hires of people of color, and only share this one here. There are MANY out there. https://minnesotanewsnetwork.com/activist-honold-meeting-u-m-leadership-reggie-lynch-allegations-audio/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MinnesotaNewsNetwork+%28Minne sota+News+Network%29

[bleedXblue]

Monster head scratcher here. Serious stretch IMHO, but hey he's a alumnus and coached there too. So, they at least know him and his style.

[markchal]

He moved Odom from Ga Tech (or was it Georgia) to X when he moved to X.

That was Hayes.

I will say, while def seems like an odd hire for them, he WAS widely seen as an up-and-coming coach. The hire by Travis at the time was praised by a lot of people who know coaching. And he does have a lot of ties there, just seems like a mid-major-ish move (one we're pretty familiar with, to be fair)

[boozehound]

Monster head scratcher here. Serious stretch IMHO, but hey he's a alumnus and coached there too. So, they at least know him and his style.

Yeah. Good for him, but surprising to see an assistant from this staff getting a HC job right now given the program's performance. I also feel like we typically, as a fan base, know which assistants are 'on the list' for a HC job. I didn't even know who he was, TBH. Either way it's probably not a bad thing for assistants to get HC jobs as I'm sure it helps when recruiting good assistants (which we really need right now).

[XUBison]

This is confusing...Mark Coyle is anything but "well regarded."

I'll save you countless articles about his managing of that department, and those on his lack of hires of people of color, and only share this one here. There are MANY out there. https://minnesotanewsnetwork.com/activist-honold-meeting-u-m-leadership-reggie-lynch-allegations-audio/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MinnesotaNewsNetwork+%28Minne sota+News+Network%29

Oh right, he’s a giant racist. Okay. Thank you for your contribution.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

Oh right, he’s a giant racist. Okay. Thank you for your contribution.

You're quite welcome.

Here is more reading detailing the MANY issues going on up there with Mr. Coyle. Enjoy: https://jasonstahl.substack.com/p/the-case-against-mark-coyle

[Masterofreality]

You are omitting any evaluation of Jonas Hayes and Dante Jackson. - YES
Do you have the same opinion of these 2 as you do Graves and Johnson? NO


See above.

[SM#24]

Given his resume, Ben Johnson getting a B1G job seems like a stretch. That said, good for him and I hope he does well. Obviously the right people saw something there so we'll just see how it turns out.

I'm also pretty confident in saying that unless we attend practices, team meetings, recruiting trips, etc. regularly, I don't think any of us really know shit about anyone's assistant coaches.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Here is the thing that makes it so surprising to us. We all thought that Steele probably needed to make some changes to his assistants and I don't think any of us would have thought too much about it if the change that was made was to let go of Johnson. I am not saying that would have been the right move but if it was the move would any of us thought it was really the wrong one or been upset? If the answer is no, that is why it seems so extreme to go from us thinking it wouldnt be a big deal if he were fired to getting a job as a Big 10 coach.

[XUBison]

Johnson’s contract approved today by the board of regents: 5 years, $9.7M.

https://www.fox9.com/sports/u-board-of-regents-approves-contract-for-gophers-coach-ben-johnson

[xu82]

Here is the thing that makes it so surprising to us. We all thought that Steele probably needed to make some changes to his assistants and I don't think any of us would have thought too much about it if the change that was made was to let go of Johnson. I am not saying that would have been the right move but if it was the move would any of us thought it was really the wrong one or been upset? If the answer is no, that is why it seems so extreme to go from us thinking it wouldnt be a big deal if he were fired to getting a job as a Big 10 coach.

I don’t know what Johnson added to the coaching side of the equation, but he sure did seem to be an effective recruiter.

The more things change, the more things change. I’m in favor of player options to move, but it makes recruiting your guys again every year a necessity. I fear I will enjoy college basketball much less as a result. It’s sad, but I have no control so I’ll just move on.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I don’t know what Johnson added to the coaching side of the equation, but he sure did seem to be an effective recruiter.

The more things change, the more things change. I’m in favor of player options to move, but it makes recruiting your guys again every year a necessity. I fear I will enjoy college basketball much less as a result. It’s sad, but I have no control so I’ll just move on.

I have no idea what he brings to the table, but every team he has been an assistant has gotten worse during his tenure. I wish him the best, but Gopher fans are not pleased with the hire.

[JTG]

I don’t know what Johnson added to the coaching side of the equation, but he sure did seem to be an effective recruiter.

The more things change, the more things change. I’m in favor of player options to move, but it makes recruiting your guys again every year a necessity. I fear I will enjoy college basketball much less as a result. It’s sad, but I have no control so I’ll just move on.
I hope it doesn't become the NBA, where players recruit each other for 6 or 7 super teams.

[MHettel]

I hope it doesn't become the NBA, where players recruit each other for 6 or 7 super teams.

HEY! This is all about the players rights!

Didn't you get the memo about how horrible it is to be a D1 College Scholarship Basketball Player. It's Brutal. I mean free tuition, rockstar status, being on TV, potential pro career, and possible legacy at the school. I mean what kind of shit is that?

Giving player these liberties is the ONLY thing to do, and there are no negative side effects or any downside whatsoever.

The game will be just as enjoyable as it was, even more so now that the players are finally enjoying the freedom and liberties they deserve!

Fans will NOT go away and revenues will NOT drop, and players will be happy! The world will unite as a result of this perfect harmony!

And also, unicorns will come out of my ass.

[JEHARDI]

$1.95M a year and he ranks 13 out of the 14 B10 coaches. I hope things work out with Travis and he is finally the one that stays. The salaries of the Power 5 coaches are out of control and not something the administration is likely to try and compete with. The road to a FF with a new coach every 5- 9 years is a long one.

[Drew]

HEY! This is all about the players rights!

Didn't you get the memo about how horrible it is to be a D1 College Scholarship Basketball Player. It's Brutal. I mean free tuition, rockstar status, being on TV, potential pro career, and possible legacy at the school. I mean what kind of shit is that?

Giving player these liberties is the ONLY thing to do, and there are no negative side effects or any downside whatsoever.

The game will be just as enjoyable as it was, even more so now that the players are finally enjoying the freedom and liberties they deserve!

Fans will NOT go away and revenues will NOT drop, and players will be happy! The world will unite as a result of this perfect harmony!

And also, unicorns will come out of my ass.

Lets not forget the hard life suffered by D1 head coaches. Making thousands of dollars per hour to coach a 4 month season.