Minnesota fired coach Ben Johnson after four seasons 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.

Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle released a statement on Thursday detailing his decision to move on from Ben Johnson. “I met with Ben in-person early this morning when the team returned to Minneapolis from the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament and informed him that we were making a change in leadership,

Another Big Ten basketball job is open. Minnesota fired Ben Johnson after four seasons, Director of Athletics Mark Coyle announced Thursday morning. The Gophers (15-17) season ended on Wednesday when they lost to Northwestern in the opening game Tournament.

Johnson, 44, coached the Gophers for four years with one trip to the NIT and one winning season. This year, Minnesota finished 15-17 overall and 7-13 in Big Ten play but won five games on the road. Johnson was 56-71 in four seasons and 22-57 in league competition. He was 1-4 in the Big Ten tournament.

Minnesota fired coach Ben Johnson on Thursday after four years of repeatedly rebuilding rosters at his alma mater without coming close to an NCAA Tournament appearance, a fleeting accomplishment for a program that has fallen behind in the rugged and expanded Big Ten.

Ben Johnson had served as Minnesota coach since 2021-22 but was unable to return the Gophers to the NCAA tournament.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the latest college basketball team to go in a different direction at the head coaching position.