[Vision2020] Monson not expected back at U of M (Minnesota)

Wed Mar 22 05:46:24 PST 2006

>From today's (March 22, 2006) Minneapolis Star Tribune -

Could this be fate?

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Monson not expected back at U of M
by Jeff Shelman, Minneapolis Star Tribune

University of Minnesota men's basketball coach Dan Monson is not expected to
return next season, according to people outside the university with
knowledge of the situation.

The Gophers' season ended Tuesday night with a 76-62 loss at Cincinnati in a
second-round National Invitation Tournament game. Traveling with the team,
Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi declined to comment when reached by
telephone Tuesday night.

"I'm not going to go there," Maturi said.

Clearly, however, the Gophers' fan base over the past three seasons has
become increasingly disenchanted with the direction of the basketball
program. It was once one of the highest-profile sports programs in the state
and one of the toughest tickets in town, but interest in Gophers basketball
has slipped.

Reports have surfaced this week that Monson could land at the University of
Idaho, his alma mater. Idaho coach Leonard Perry was fired in early March
after compiling a 4-25 record in his fifth season.

Monson's father, Don, coached at the school from 1978-83, and Dan Monson was
a member of the Idaho football team in 1980.

Vandals athletic director Rob Spear said Tuesday he was under the impression
Monson would be returning to Minnesota. He said he has not asked for
permission to speak with Monson.

"Our situation is evolving," Spear said. "We're going to continue to
interview candidates until we find the right fit."

It's unclear whether Monson will be fired or reach a buyout agreement. 
Athletic department spokesman Kyle Coughlin said after Tuesday's game that
Monson has said he "is not resigning."

If Monson is terminated, he will be owed a $1.408 million buyout by the
university. Monson originally signed a seven-year contract in the summer of
1999. That contract has since been amended twice. In the fall of 2000,
Monson's contract was extended to last until five years after the men's
basketball program went off NCAA probation incurred for violations under
former coach Clem Haskins-- until the end of the 2009-10 season.

One of the most visible athletic programs at the university, the men's
basketball program is crucial to the financial health of the athletic
department. According to Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act forms filed with
the United States Department of Education, the men's basketball program made
a profit of more than $7.5 million in 2004-05 -- making it the most
profitable athletic program at the university.

But attendance has dropped under Monson, from 13,767 in 1999-2000 to 10,567
in 2004-05 in the 14,625-seat Williams Arena. It did increase this season to
11,535 fans per game, but the Gophers drew only 2,643 fans for their
first-round NIT victory over Wake Forest last Wednesday.

There also is increased apathy among supporters of the program. Williams
Arena has lost much of its magic from past years and it isn't nearly as
intimidating a venue as before.

Cleaning up after the scandal

Monson was hired in July 1999 in the wake of a massive academic fraud
scandal under Haskins. Considering the shape the program was in -- the
Gophers ultimately would receive severe recruiting sanctions and were placed
on probation -- Monson was widely considered one of the nation's top young
coaches after leading Gonzaga within a game of the Final Four -- including
beating the Gophers 75-63 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on the
day the scandal broke.

While Monson has been successful in improving the image of the program, the
Gophers have reached the NCAA tournament only once in his seven seasons. 
College basketball, as Monson repeatedly has said, is "a bottom-line
business."

Monson has a 116-101 record at Minnesota. However, he is only 44-68 in Big
Ten play. The Gophers have especially struggled against the top teams in the
Big Ten under Monson, going 0-14 against Illinois, 2-11 against Wisconsin
and 3-8 against Michigan State. They have also lost five in a row against
Northwestern.

After three consecutive NIT appearances in 2001, '02 and '03, the Gophers
went 12-18 in 2004 and finished tied for last in the Big Ten. Monson entered
2004-05 under pressure to perform, and he delivered.

Led by junior college transfer Vincent Grier, the Gophers advanced to the
NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999 before losing in the first
round to Iowa State.

With Grier back and guards Moe Hargrow and Adam Boone returning after
sitting out last season, the Gophers entered this season optimistic that
they would return to the NCAA tournament.

Instead, the Gophers battled injuries and illness and opened the Big Ten
season with six consecutive losses. After finishing the regular season with
a 15-14 record and failing to reach the NCAA tournament, the Gophers made
their fourth NIT appearance in the past six seasons.

Monson spoke to the media after Tuesday's loss like a coach expecting to
return next season when he was asked to address the future of the program.

"We started 9-2 and then we started 0-6 in the Big Ten and a lot of teams
wouldn't have had the character to dig through that 0-6 [start] when you're
9-8," he said. "We had to play .500 basketball or better and we had the
fourth-best record in the Big Ten the second time through [the schedule], so
there was a lot of good things that went on.

"When you reflect on the whole season with the injuries and things that
happened early in the season, it didn't go down the road we wanted, but
that's what makes college basketball so great, you can't predict those
things. I think our guys weathered through it and fought to the best of
their ability through a difficult up-and-down part of the season for us."

Part of Monson's downfall has been recruiting. Until landing current St. 
Thomas Academy senior Bryce Webster, the Gophers have struggled to bring in
the state's top high school players.

Former players Rick Rickert, Kris Humphries and Ben Johnson all committed or
played elsewhere before returning to Minnesota. Boone played two seasons at
North Carolina before transferring to the Gophers. Hargrow played two-plus
seasons for the Gophers, transferred to Arkansas and then transferred back.
Former Minneapolis Henry guard Lawrence McKenzie is sitting out this season
after spending two seasons at Oklahoma.

Monson said Tuesday night that he's optimistic about the direction of the
program.

"This is our second year off of probation and we went to the NCAA tournament
last year," Monson said. "We had a lot of good things happen this year. We
had our freshmen class sitting out and along with another redshirt, so we
had four kids sitting out and two more coming in. I think next year's going
to be an exciting build on what we're trying to do now, off of our third
season off of probation, and making this program back to where I think
everyone's going to be very proud of it.

"We're going to do it with different players next year, but different
doesn't mean unsuccessful. I think we can have a very successful season next
year."

Hargrow said Monson held in his emotions after the game.

"I thought we were going to get [his emotions] out of him right away," 
Hargrow said. "We meet with him again sometime next week. He's an emotional
guy, and man, I know he doesn't want to see [the season] end."

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The possibilities are too good to be true.

Don Monson back in the Silver and Gold.

Hey, Carl, remember when . . .

http://www.tomandrodna.com/1955_Vandals.jpg

Thoughts?

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

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Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.

- Author Unknown
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