University of Minnesota Athletic Director Mark Coyle says they plan to moving quickly in hiring a new head coach for the men’s basketball team following Ben Johnson’s firing this week. Coyle says the goal is to find someone who embraces Minnesota.

A winning background is what also led to the Gophers hiring of P.J. Fleck as head football coach and Bob Motzko as men’s hockey coach during Coyle’s tenure. Coyle will be looking for a similar resume in his next men’s basketball coach after he fired Ben Johnson, another first-time head coach, after his fourth season on Thursday morning.

In a Q&A with the Minnesota Star Tribune, Gophers AD Mark Coyle said there's no reason Minnesota can't compete for NCAA men's basketball tournament berths and Big Ten championships.