Minnesota Basketball: 5 candidates to replace Richard Pitino as head coach

Niko Medved

Much like with Pitino, the best choice for the Golden Gophers may be a mid-major head coach on the rise. There are plenty of strong candidates in the game today and a number of strong candidates with ties to Minnesota. It’s not necessary for Minnesota’s next head coach to have Big Ten experience or direct connections to the Golden Gophers, but Medved checks a number of these boxes in their hunt.

Medved is another University of Minnesota graduate and he also spent time as an assistant with the school. Medved has had success in his head coaching career, first in four years with Furman before a brief tenure at Drake. Both times he put together the pieces for future success for these programs. He inherited a Colorado State team in 2018 that had seen better days. Colorado State was a bubble team this past season that had to settle for the NIT, but their progress has been a clear indication that Medved was a solid choice some three years ago.

Without a doubt, Medved would be the most raw choice of the names on this list. His connection to Minnesota certainly helps his candidacy, but it’s also true that he has much to prove in his head coaching career. He’s yet to lead a team to the NCAA Tournament and it’s been 14 years since he worked for the Golden Gophers. Still, he’s a rising name in the coaching world and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get one of these top jobs in the near future, especially if the rise of Colorado State continues.