Niko Medved is off to a new program just one day after losing on a heartbreaking buzzer-beater.
The University of Minnesota announced on Monday that they have hired Medved to be their next head basketball coach. Medved has landed a six-year deal from the Gophers, the release adds.
The 51-year-old Medved had been the head coach at Colorado State for the last seven seasons. That included three NCAA Tournament berths and an impressive overall record of 143-85 (.627) with the Rams.
This season, Medved led Colorado State to a 26-10 record as well as a victory in the MWC Tournament. But their March Madness hopes came to a cruel end in the Round of 32 on Sunday night when a buzzer-beating shot by Maryland’s Derik Queen gave the Terrapins a dramatic 72-71 win over the Rams. There was also some extra controversy over the game-winner because it appeared that Queen had traveled before releasing the ball.
For Medved though, his new job marks a homecoming. He is a Minneapolis native who attended the University of Minnesota as an undergrad. Medved would later return to the school as an assistant coach from 2006-07.
Also formerly the head coach for both Furman University and Drake University, Medved is set to take over for a Minnesota program that just fired coach Ben Johnson after four seasons in charge. The Gophers, who went 15-17 this season, have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2019 and have only had three winning seasons over the last decade. As such, Medved will have his work cut out for him as he returns to the Twin Cities.
