Busting Brackets
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College Basketball: Ranking the Top 10 coaching hires for 2017-18

By Daniel Benjamin

Mar 22, 2017; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers athletic director Joe Alleva introduces new basketball head coach Will Wade during a press conference at the LSU Student Union. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers athletic director Joe Alleva introduces new basketball head coach Will Wade during a press conference at the LSU Student Union. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2015; Storrs, CT, USA; Furman Paladins head coach Niko Medved watches from the sideline as they take on the Connecticut Huskies in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Storrs, CT, USA; Furman Paladins head coach Niko Medved watches from the sideline as they take on the Connecticut Huskies in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Niko Medved, Drake Bulldogs

Niko Medved became the 13th head coach of Drake University since 1971 when he was hired on March 26. The Bulldogs went 7-24 this past season under Ray Giacoletti and Jeff Rutter. Drake’s last winning season was in 2011-12, and they have only made the NCAA Tournament once since 1971 (2008).

Medved previously spent four seasons at Furman, guiding the Paladins to a 60-72 overall mark. Furman improved in each of the 43-year old’s four seasons there, going 23-11 in 2016-17. The Paladins captured a share of the Southern Conference regular season crown and earned their second straight berth to CIT this past season. Medved was named the conference’s Coach of the Year in 2016-17.

Medved started his college coaching career as an assistant coach in 1997 at Macalester College. After two seasons at Macalester, he moved onto Furman then to Minnesota. He was at Colorado State from 2007-13 before being hired as Furman’s head coach.

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