Owens guy
2nd String
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From the St. Paul Pioneer Press on April 3 (free access - mods feel free to edit if needed):
Charley Walters: Brian Dutcher praises Gophers’ hiring of Ben Johnson
Dutcher, who has coached San Diego State to a 53-7 record the past two seasons, was among those who Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle contacted about the job that went to Ben Johnson.
Dutcher, reached by the Pioneer Press last week, said Coyle made a “great” hire in Johnson. Dutcher, 61, a Bloomington Jefferson grad, last year signed a guaranteed $7.8 million, six-year contract with San Diego State with a buyout of $6.925 million. But he required that the buyout would be just $1 million if he were to be hired by the Gophers. San Diego State obliged.
“I had a clause in my contract because it pulls at the heartstrings — it’s where my dad (Jim) coached (Gophers’ last Big Ten championship in 1982). It’s where I went to school, my wife went to school, where my three sisters went to school,” Dutcher said. “So, you know.”
Dutcher said Coyle “couldn’t have been any nicer” in expressing interest. “Mark called me … during the first round of the (NCAA) tournament and said, ‘I’d like to talk to you about the job if you’re interested. I don’t want to bother you during the tournament, and when the tournament’s over, I’ll reach back out to you,’ ” Dutcher said.
Dutcher said fine and that he would “love” to hear what Coyle had to say.
San Diego State lost to Syracuse 78-62 on the first Friday of the tournament, ending a 14-game winning streak. Coyle then telephoned Dutcher, who was back in San Diego on Saturday, and asked whether Dutcher would be interested in interviewing in front of a committee or with just Coyle, whichever would be most comfortable.
Dutcher told Coyle he would be happy to do whatever was best for Coyle, but that he wanted a couple of days at home in San Diego.
On Monday, Dutcher received a voicemail saying Minnesota had “gone down the road with someone else and found their guy,” Dutcher said.
“That’s when they hired Ben. I loved it. I heard Ben blew the (committee) away, did a great job, which is not surprising. I think it’s a great hire. He’s a great young coach that obviously loves the
school, loves the city, and I think he’ll do an outstanding job there.”
Charley Walters: Brian Dutcher praises Gophers’ hiring of Ben Johnson
Dutcher, who has coached San Diego State to a 53-7 record the past two seasons, was among those who Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle contacted about the job that went to Ben Johnson.
Dutcher, reached by the Pioneer Press last week, said Coyle made a “great” hire in Johnson. Dutcher, 61, a Bloomington Jefferson grad, last year signed a guaranteed $7.8 million, six-year contract with San Diego State with a buyout of $6.925 million. But he required that the buyout would be just $1 million if he were to be hired by the Gophers. San Diego State obliged.
“I had a clause in my contract because it pulls at the heartstrings — it’s where my dad (Jim) coached (Gophers’ last Big Ten championship in 1982). It’s where I went to school, my wife went to school, where my three sisters went to school,” Dutcher said. “So, you know.”
Dutcher said Coyle “couldn’t have been any nicer” in expressing interest. “Mark called me … during the first round of the (NCAA) tournament and said, ‘I’d like to talk to you about the job if you’re interested. I don’t want to bother you during the tournament, and when the tournament’s over, I’ll reach back out to you,’ ” Dutcher said.
Dutcher said fine and that he would “love” to hear what Coyle had to say.
San Diego State lost to Syracuse 78-62 on the first Friday of the tournament, ending a 14-game winning streak. Coyle then telephoned Dutcher, who was back in San Diego on Saturday, and asked whether Dutcher would be interested in interviewing in front of a committee or with just Coyle, whichever would be most comfortable.
Dutcher told Coyle he would be happy to do whatever was best for Coyle, but that he wanted a couple of days at home in San Diego.
On Monday, Dutcher received a voicemail saying Minnesota had “gone down the road with someone else and found their guy,” Dutcher said.
“That’s when they hired Ben. I loved it. I heard Ben blew the (committee) away, did a great job, which is not surprising. I think it’s a great hire. He’s a great young coach that obviously loves the
school, loves the city, and I think he’ll do an outstanding job there.”
