CINCINNATI, OH – JANUARY 05: Naji Marshall # 13 of the Xavier Musketeers talks to assistant coach Ben … [+]
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Minnesota is expected to hire assistant Xavier, Minneapolis native and 2005 Minnesota alum Ben Johnson as its new men’s basketball coach, a source confirmed.
The news was previously reported by ESPN and Stadium.
Johnson, 40, will replace Richard Pitino, who was admitted and then took a New Mexico job.
“Ben is a great coach and employer who will one day be a very successful head coach,” said Xavier head coach Travis Steele when Johnson was hired there. “It’s just Ben ‘Steady Eddy.” He is the same man every day. He is very understanding, well thought out. He is very good at everything. He is very good on the floor, is good at developing skills, has an offensive mind and has good relationships with our players. He is a very good assessor and employer. Everything he does is very detailed and has helped us mine the state of Alabama to get Colby Jones and New Jersey to get Zach Freemantle just to name a few. He has a keen eye for talent and is very deep, very diligent with his process. Another one I think is going to be the head coach sooner rather than later. It’s awesome and we’re lucky to have it. “
Minnesota finished 25-13 and won the 2014 NIT Championship in Johnson’s first season on the Golden Gopher staff. Minnesota finished 24-10 and won the NCAA Championship in the 2016-17 season.
Johnson returned to Minnesota in 2013 after spending the 2012-13 season as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska.
Minnesota will lose star guard Marcus Carr, who is nominating for the NBA Draft.