Monson insists he’s staying put despite report to the contrary

Don Monson has been scanning the internet and reading all the articles regarding his son Dan’s job status at the University of Minnesota, but the former Idaho men’s basketball coach has a pretty good inside source.

“All I know is what he told me on the phone at about 11 p.m. (Tuesday),” Don said Wednesday afternoon. “He said, ‘Dad, there are going to be some articles and they’re not positive and not very good, but my athletic director has assured me my job is OK.’ “

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported in Wednesday’s edition that Monson wasn’t expected to return as Minnesota’s head coach, citing unnamed sources outside of the university. The article suggested that Monson could land at Idaho, which dismissed Leonard Perry two weeks ago.

Swift rebuttals followed Wednesday morning. Dan Monson told a Minnesota radio station, ESPN and the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he had been told by Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi that his job was safe. Monson told the Pioneer Press that he and Maturi addressed the team Wednesday morning and told them Monson would return.

“The articles are concerning, something could happen, but all you can go by is what your A.D. is saying,” Don Monson said.

Perhaps some confusion stemmed from the fact that Gophers assistant coach Bill Walker interviewed for the Idaho job Wednesday in Moscow. Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said he told a Star Tribune reporter Tuesday that he hadn’t asked for permission to talk to Monson.

“Dan’s probably talked to Rob about Bill, but never anything else,” Don Monson said. “Maybe they misunderstood.”

Spear said Wednesday he’s been under the impression that Monson would return as Minnesota’s coach, but acknowledged the obvious: If Monson’s status changed at Minnesota, Spear said Monson would be somebody “we’d want to have conversations with.”

For now, it appears Monson is staying put, which is welcome news to his father, who coached Idaho to a 100-41 record in five seasons from 1978-83, capturing back-to-back Big Sky titles in 1981 and 1982.

Dan Monson was 52-17 as Gonzaga’s head coach from 1997-99, including a memorable NCAA run to the Elite Eight in 1999. He left to take over a Minnesota program that was in disarray from an academic fraud scandal under previous coach Clem Haskins. The program was on NCAA probation for Monson’s first five seasons. Monson’s record in seven seasons is 116-101 with one trip to the NCAA tournament.

“The one thing that bothers me with the whole deal is he was hired to clean up a mess and he’s cleaned it up and it hasn’t been easy,” Don Monson said. “I also understand that with the pay you get you have to win games, but to what level? It seems to me they would be pretty satisfied that the program is being run well and cleanly.”

Minnesota lost to Cincinnati on Tuesday in the second round of the NIT. Monson, who has two years remaining on his contract, would be owed $1.408 million if he’s fired, according to the Star Tribune.

Walker has been an assistant for seven years under Monson. He is the third candidate to have an on-campus interview, joining Utah State’s Don Verlin and Idaho’s George Pfeifer.