Colorado State AD claims he’s heard nothing of Gophers’ interest in Niko Medved

Colorado State is doing everything it can to keep Medved in Fort Collins.

Mar 21, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Colorado State Rams head coach Niko Medved watches the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Over the weekend, Colorado State's Niko Medved emerged as the top candidate in Minnesota's ongoing head coaching search. Meanwhile, Colorado State Director of Athletics John Weber is doing everything he can to keep Medved in Fort Collins.

Sean Keller of the Denver Post published a column Sunday night highlighting a conversation he had with Weber, who, as of Saturday afternoon, had not heard anything from Minnesota about potentially buying out Medved's contract—which, according to the story, would cost $1.85 million.

💵 Colorado State's AD says Minnesota hasn't called him yet. But the Gophers will. Which is why it's time to give #CSURams MBB coach Niko Medved a lifetime deal — or as "lifetime" as is allowed. @DenverPost column:https://t.co/CPb9LFIp2W#NCAA #MarchMadness #Stalwart #SkiUMah

— Sean Keeler (@SeanKeeler) March 17, 2025

Keller proposes that Colorado State should offer Medved a "lifetime contract."

Medved has turned the Rams into one of the most consistent programs in the Mountain West, and Keller points out that they can offer something Minnesota might not be able to: job security. Expectations are lower at a place like CSU, making Medved's position far more stable.

Throughout the story, Weber declined to comment on whether Colorado State would offer Medved an increased salary, stating, "I am not going to comment any more on any rumors or conjectures."

It's clear that Weber understands where the rumors are coming from—and that they’re legitimate. He acknowledged that when other programs want to hire your employees, it’s a sign you’re doing something right.

As speculation linking Medved to Minnesota continues to build, Colorado State is preparing for an NCAA Tournament first-round matchup against Memphis on Friday night. The Gophers' timeline could be affected by the Rams' success.

As a Roseville native and U of M graduate, Medved could get an offer from Minnesota with hometown appeal that he can't get anywhere else.

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