New Gophers men's basketball coach Niko Medved said Tuesday that he wants longtime Gophers assistant Dave Thorson to join his coaching staff, along with members of Medved's former staff at Colorado State.

Thorson and Medved worked together on the Gophers' coaching staff, and also coached together at Drake and Colorado State.

Thorson was coaching under Medved with the Rams when he left to become Ben Johnson's assistant with the Gophers.

Medved made the expected announcement on Thorson during his introductory news conference at the Athletes Village, surrounded by boosters, cheerleaders and members of the pep band.

Thorson was among dozens of Gophers employees watching from the side.

"We go way back, so I hope that happens," Medved said of Thorson staying. "Can we count on you, Dave?"

David Zalubowski
Niko Medved coaches for Colorado State, with Dave Thorson (upper left) as an assistant, in 2018.

Thorson gave a thumbs up, as others cheered.

Medved also mentioned two members of his coaching staff from Colorado State: Brian Cooley and the Rams director of player development Joe De Ciman. Cooley had been a Colorado State assistant with Medved since 2021. De Ciman, a former Rams player, was with the program since 2018-19.

Among his other comments, Medved thanked Johnson for the work he did over four seasons as Gophers head coach.

"Ben is my friend. I've known Ben forever," Medved said. "He's part of Gophers history. I hope Ben knows he's always welcome around Gophers basketball."