MINNEAPOLIS — On Thursday, the University of Minnesota made the decision to part ways with head basketball coach Ben Johnson after four years of rebuilding efforts that failed to deliver an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The program remains behind in the competitively challenging Big Ten Conference, which now includes more teams. Johnson had two more years left on his contract, amounting to a $2.925 million buyout, while his annual salary stood at $1.95 million, the lowest among the league’s 18 teams.
The Gophers ended their season with a record of 15-17 after falling to Northwestern in the opening round of the conference tournament. Following a late-night meeting upon the team’s return from Indianapolis, Athletic Director Mark Coyle made the announcement. The university chose to release the news in the middle of the night. Coyle took the opportunity to praise Johnson for his dedication to the program, which he greatly cherishes, but highlighted the program’s unmet expectations.
Coyle, who is a member of the NCAA Tournament selection committee, aims to revitalize both the men’s and women’s basketball programs at Minnesota. Having previously worked at Kentucky and Syracuse, two institutions with prosperous basketball histories, Coyle expressed optimism about the Gophers’ future. “This position is incredibly coveted, considering we’re in one of the top conferences and cities nationwide,” Coyle stated, emphasizing Minnesota’s exceptional resources, including top-tier facilities and a historic game venue. The search for a new head coach will commence promptly.
During Johnson’s tenure, Minnesota achieved a record of 56-71, with a league play record of 22-57. Only Washington fared worse during this period, having recently joined as part of the Big Ten’s expansion to the West Coast. After serving five seasons on Richard Pitino’s staff and spending three years as an assistant at Xavier, Johnson took on his first head coaching role. However, he faced challenges such as the departure of the top seven scorers from the 2020-21 squad and new NCAA rules allowing player transfers without sitting out a season.
In the years that followed, the Gophers struggled, hitting a low point with a 9-22 overall record in 2022-23 before showing a degree of improvement the next year. Despite finishing 19-15 and securing a spot in the NIT, the 9-11 conference record still left them tied for ninth place—a modest achievement considering past records. Additionally, the introduction of name, image, and likeness deals for college athletes created further challenges as wealthier programs swayed critical players away.
Despite these difficulties, some players showed commendable loyalty. Dawson Garcia, earning a second team All-Big Ten selection, delivered an outstanding fifth season. Although Pharrel Payne, another Minnesota native, transferred to Texas A&M, only four of the previous season’s top 12 players returned. The team often faltered when Garcia was effectively marked by opponents and concluded the conference season at the bottom for scoring.
Fan attendance at historic Williams Arena has declined, largely due to the presence of the NBA’s Timberwolves and other entertainment options in the pro-leaning city. Although the Gophers were long the sole Division I program within a state noted for producing Division I talent, St. Thomas has since joined the ranks. Johnson acknowledged financial realities impacting the program throughout the season.