SoK alum Niko Medved named head men’s basketball coach

“This is an exciting day for our program, our University, and our state,” said University of Minnesota Director of Athletics Mark Coyle, upon announcing Medved’s appointment in March. “I am thrilled to welcome Niko, his wife Erica, and their daughters, Aly and Taylor, to Minnesota. Niko is a Minnesota alum with a proven head coaching track record. He is extremely passionate about coaching and developing young men and takes great pride in being from Minnesota. He has had success everywhere he has been, and we look forward to him leading our men’s basketball program at his alma mater.”

Medved, who earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology (1997) and his master’s in sport management (1999) from the School of Kinesiology, returns to his alma mater after a seven-year head coaching stint at Colorado State. It marks the second time Medved has been a coach at Minnesota, as he was an assistant coach during the 200607 season. Medved started his collegiate basketball career at Williams Arena when he served as a student manager under former Gopher coach Clem Haskins. 

“This job was too special to pass up and when the opportunity presented itself, I had to take it,” Medved says. “I grew up a Gopher about 15 minutes away from The Barn. I went to school here, was a student manager here, and coached here. This is a special place, it’s home, and I cannot wait to get started.”

—Michelle Traen Traversie

Read more on the Gopher Sports website

View video of Medved with U President Rebecca Cunningham