:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/11384951/25-miles.0.jpg)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>There you have it. RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/mrbasketballmn">mrbasketballmn</a>: @<a href="https://twitter.com/darrenwolfson">darrenwolfson</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/bphof21">bphof21</a> ts official: Ben Johnson has been named Gophers asst coach</p>— Robin Washut (@RobinWashut) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobinWashut/status/322550077765869568">April 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Nebraska basketball assistant coach Ben Johnson has accepted a similar position under new Gopher head coach Richard Pitino. Johnson, a former Gopher player will now take on the challenge of coaching at his alma mater. An official announcement is expected in the next couple of days.
The vacancy will leave a hole in Tim Miles staff that will be difficult to replace. Johnson has strong ties in the Big Ten footprint and was considered a strong recruiter.
It's too early to speculate what direction Miles might go to fill the seat. Speculation will almost undoutedly include Erick Strickland who was interested in joining the staff last year when Miles was first putting it together. Whether Miles goes in that direction remains to be seen. Strickland served as an assistant coach at Bellevue West this past season. That is his only formal coaching experience.