Johnson, a Minneapolis native, is a Minnesota alum, having finished his playing career there after spending his first two seasons at Northwestern.

Minnesota fired coach Ben Johnson early Thursday morning, in an announcement posted to social media at 2:19 a.m. ET, following the team's season-ending loss Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to Northwestern.

The Gophers fired men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson early Thursday following his third losing Big Ten season in four years. The decision which will cost the University of Minnesota a $2.93 million buyout of his contract.