Coaches
Ben Johnson
Head Coach
Ben Johnson enters his third year at the helm of Golden Gopher men’s basketball. Johnson, 42, was named Minnesota’s 18th head coach in school history on March 22, 2021.
In his first season as the Gopher men’s basketball coach, Johnson had the task of assembling a team from scratch when he added 10 newcomers to the group. The Golden Gophers went 13-17 in 2021-22 and went 9-1 in nonconference play. Under Coach Johnson’s tutelage, Minnesota won five road games, the first road wins since the 2019-20 campaign. He also recorded six Power 5 wins last year, including two Quad 1 wins. Johnson notched his first Big Ten Conference win on the road when the team defeated Michigan, 75-65. It marked Minnesota’s first win at Michigan since the 2010-11 season. The Gophers also won the inaugural Asheville Championship and earned a thrilling win over Pitt in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Two players garnered All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2021-22.
Off the court, the Golden Gophers have six individuals earn a degree in May of 2022 as the team held a 3.18 team grade point average last season. He also signed the No. 43 recruiting class in just his first year as a head coach and welcomes eight newcomers to the 2022-23 team.
Minnesota went 9-22 in Johnson's second year, playing an unprecedented four freshman in his second head coaching campaign. Johnson also added his first Big Ten Tournament win when the Gophers defeated Nebraska, 78-75. Off the court, the Golden Gophers graduated five individuals and recorded a program best 3.36 grade point average in the spring of 2023. Minnesota also had 12 individuals record a GPA over 3.0.
Johnson, who graduated from Minnesota in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, returns to his alma mater after spending three seasons at Xavier as an assistant coach. Johnson previously served as an assistant coach at Minnesota from 2013-18 and was a two-time captain during his playing career for the Gophers.
Johnson helped lead Xavier to consecutive top-30 recruiting classes in 2019 and 2020 and the Musketeers posted a collective record of 51-37 in three seasons with him on the bench. In his previous stint at Minnesota, Johnson helped recruit local standouts and current NBA athletes in Daniel Oturu and Amir Coffey to the Gophers. Johnson was instrumental in recruiting and developing Jordan Murphy, who finished his career atop the Gopher record books in rebounds (1,307), free throws made (460), free throws attempted (698) and second in scoring (1,802 points).
Prior to returning to Minnesota in 2013, he spent one season as an assistant coach under Tim Miles at the University of Nebraska. While with the Huskers, Johnson assisted in all-day-to-day basketball-related duties while also serving as recruiting coordinator. Johnson also led the development of Nebraska’s backcourt players.
Johnson spent 2008-12 as an assistant coach at Northern Iowa. The Panthers went a combined 93-77 in that timeframe, winning at least 20 games in all four years. Northern Iowa reached postseason play in all four years and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2009-10. That year, UNI won a school-record 30 games and upset top-seeded Kansas in the second round. During his tenure at UNI, the Panthers boasted three first-team All-MVC selections, including 2010 Missouri Valley Conference MVP Adam Koch in 2010. Four players were named to the MVC All-Freshmen or All-Newcomer teams, including a pair in 2011-12.
Prior to his stay at Northern Iowa, Johnson served as an assistant coach for two seasons at the University of Texas-Pan American. He was heavily involved in recruiting, worked with the Broncos perimeter players and coordinated UTPA’s summer camps.
Johnson’s coaching career began at the University of Dayton, where he served as a graduate assistant during the 2005-06 season.
Johnson started his collegiate playing career at Northwestern and played two seasons before returning to the Twin Cities to finish his career. He finished with 533 points in 59 games in Maroon and Gold and scored a total of 1,202 career points between the two Big Ten Conference institutions.
The Minneapolis native enjoyed a standout prep career, leading DeLaSalle High School to a pair of state championships. He was a two-time first-team all-state selection in both football and basketball, and as a senior, was named a Street & Smith All-American, as well as an honorable mention Nike All-American.
He was listed as the 60th-best basketball player in the country by Bob Gibbons in his senior season, totaling more than 2,200 points during his high school career. Johnson also was listed on Tom Lemming’s High School Football All-American list as a top-20 national recruit and was a two-time all-state performer on the gridiron.
Jason Kemp
Assistant Coach
Jason Kemp joined the Minnesota basketball staff as an assistant coach in April 2021. Kemp, who started his coaching career at Minnesota State University Moorhead, spent the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons as an assistant at William & Mary. He has also served as an assistant coach at North Dakota State, Toledo and Ohio.
William & Mary posted 28-21 record with Kemp on staff, which included a 21-11 record and a second-place finish in the CAA in 2019-20. The 21 wins marked the fourth most in school history and the most in the regular season for a Tribe team since 1950. William & Mary posted a school record for conference (13) and road wins (10). Kemp also helped mentor a pair of All-CAA big men in Nathan Knight (first team) and Andy Van Vliet (third team). Knight, who is a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, went on to take home a massive haul of awards, including the Lou Henson National Mid-Major Player of the Year, CAA Player of the Year, CAA Defensive Player of the Year and VaSID State Player of the Year.
Prior to his time at William & Mary, Kemp spent time at Ohio, Toledo and North Dakota State. Throughout his career as an assistant, Kemp has helped lead programs to four post-season appearances, including an NCAA Tournament bid, and two regular-season conference championships. He has recruited and mentored four league players of the year and eight all-conference first-team selections.
Kemp spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio. The Bobcats compiled an 81-77 record during his tenure. Kemp helped to mentor eight players who earned All-MAC selections, including two first-team members, five MAC All-Freshman Team picks, a MAC Player of the Year and a MAC Rookie of the Year (Ben Vander Plas in 2019). Kemp also aided in the development of two-time All-MAC selection Maurice Ndour, who signed with the Dallas Mavericks and played in the NBA with the New York Knicks. Kemp also aided in the recruitment and development of current Los Angeles Clippers guard Jason Preston.
In just his second season at Ohio, the Bobcats enjoyed the biggest turnaround in school history. Ohio also had one of the top improvements in the country, finishing with a 23-12 record and a 13-game improvement over the prior season. The Bobcats took part in the 2016 CBI and advanced to the semifinals. Kemp mentored MAC Player of the Year Antonio Campbell, who also earned Associated Press All-America honors. The 23 wins ranked sixth in Ohio history, and the CBI marked the program’s 22nd all-time post-season appearance.
Kemp spent one season at Toledo, helping the Rockets to a school-record 27 wins and a regular-season MAC Championship in 2013-14. Included in UT’s win total was a victory at Atlantic Coast Conference foe Boston College. The Rockets ended the season competing in the National Invitation Tournament and had a trio of players named to the All-MAC Team.
Kemp’s first Division I coaching stop came at North Dakota State, where he spent eight seasons, including the final six as an assistant coach. After getting his coaching start at Minnesota State University-Moorhead in 2004-05, Kemp moved to North Dakota State and served as a graduate manager in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
During North Dakota State's transition to the Division I level, Kemp was promoted to assistant coach prior to the 2007-08 season. During his eight seasons in Fargo, the Bison finished with a 144-97 record, including a 108-77 mark during his six years as an assistant. He mentored 12 All-Summit League players, including six first-team selections.
North Dakota State joined the Summit League in Kemp’s first season as an assistant coach, and the Bison compiled a 63-43 league record. In the program’s first season of eligibility in 2009, Kemp helped NDSU to a Summit League Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Bison finished the year with a 26-7 record and claimed the conference’s regular-season crown as well thanks to a 16-2 mark. Kemp helped to mentor Summit League Player of the Year Ben Woodside, who was an AP All-American and ended his career as North Dakota State's career leading scorer.
During his final two seasons at North Dakota State, Kemp helped the program to post-season appearances in the CBI. In 2012-13, the Bison advanced to the Summit League Championship Game and ended the year at 24-10 overall and 12-4 in league play.
Along with Woodside, Kemp recruited and developed 2014 Summit League Player of the Year and AP All-American Taylor Braun. Also, during his tenure at North Dakota State, Lawrence Alexander, who went on to be named player of the year in 2015, was named the Summit League Rookie of the Year in 2012, while Mike Felt was selected as the league’s Sixth Man of the Year a season later.
North Dakota State enjoyed success academically during Kemp’s time in Fargo. The program achieved the top overall Academic Progress Rating in the Summer League during his tenure. A total of 37 Bison players were named to the Summit League Academic Honor Roll from 2008-13, including seven distinguished scholars, and Brett Winkelman was twice named the Summit League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the 2008 and 2009.
During his time as a graduate manager under Tim Miles, the Bison compiled a 36-20 record. Included in North Dakota State's wins were nationally-ranked victories against No. 13 Wisconsin in 2005-06 and No. 9 Marquette a season later. Kemp coordinated summer camps and video editing projects, while serving as the Director of NDSU Hardcourt Hustler ballboy program and the Director of NDSU Bison Buddies youth clinic.
A native of Madison, Wis., Kemp played four years at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise sport science in 2004. He also received a master’s degree in sports management from North Dakota State in 2007. Kemp is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
He and his Wife Michelyn have two children, Violet and Zander.
Dave Thorson
Assistant Coach
Dave Thorson joined the Minnesota basketball staff as an assistant coach in April 2021. Thorson, who is one of the most decorated coaches to grace a sideline in Minnesota, returns to the Maroon and Gold after previously serving as a Gopher assistant in the early 1990s. He spent 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 as an assistant at Colorado State after previously serving as an assistant at Drake for the 2017-18 season.
At Colorado State, Thorson helped revive a program that won 11 games prior to his arrive. In his first year on staff, the Rams won 12 games and then posted 20 wins in 2019-20 and 2020-21. Colorado State advanced to the 2021 NIT Semifinals and finished the season 20-7. In his one season at Drake, the Bulldogs went 17-17 in 2017-18 after recording just seven wins the year prior.
Thorson's name is practically synonymous with amateur basketball in Minnesota. He was previously a Minnesota assistant coach from 1990-94 and then coached DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis for 23 years. At DeLaSalle, Thorson guided his teams to nine state championships, which included six consecutive and an overall record of 527-130.
The nine state championships are the most by a coach in state history while the six-year championship streak is also a state record. His teams also finished as state runners-up twice, third once and fourth once.
Thorson's teams captured 20 Tri-Metro Conference championships and won a conference record 72-straight games from 1998-02. He was named the Minnesota Class 3A Coach of the Year two times and was inducted into the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame in October 2019.
Thorson, who coached Johnson at DeLaSalle, began his career as an assistant at South Dakota in 1989.
Thorson and his wife Rita and have one child, a daughter Ella Ray.
Marcus Jenkins
Assistant Coach
Marcus Jenkins joined the Minnesota men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach in May 2021. Jenkins came to Minnesota from Richmond where he had worked since 2015 and had served as the Associate Head Coach since June 2018.
A proven recruiter, Jenkins helped lead Richmond to a 14-9 record during the 2020-21 season and a spot in the NIT Quarterfinals. He oversaw scouting operations for Richmond’s biggest win of the season: an upset at No. 10 Kentucky.
Jenkins helped engineer the Spiders turnaround in 2019-20, when Richmond went 24-7 to tie the school record for regular-season wins and increased its win total from 2018-19 by 11, tied for the third-largest increase in all of Division I. Following the season, Jenkins was selected to participate in the 2020 TopConnect seminar, which provides leadership training and networking opportunities for the nation’s top assistant coaches.
Jenkins has also spent time at Princeton (2011-15) and helped lead the Tigers to four straight winning seasons. Jenkins was also one of 14 college coaches selected to take part in the NCAA Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA) Achieving Coaching Excellence (ACE) program.
Jenkins got his start in basketball in 2007 Richmond’s Director of Basketball Operations. In his first four years with the Spiders, he helped Richmond to four postseason appearances including an NCAA at-large bid in 2010 and an Atlantic 10 championship and Sweet 16 appearance in 2011.
Jenkins graduated from Air Force in 2004 and led the Falcons to the NCAA Tournament in 2004, which was the school’s first tournament appearance since 1962.
After graduating, Jenkins served his three-year Air Force commitment in Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont., as a logistics officer. He also worked as an assistant coach at Fairfield (Mont.) High School in 2006-07.
He and his wife, Melissa, have two daughters, Malia and Madelyn, and a son, Myles.
Ryan Livingston
Assistant AD/Director of Men's Basketball Operations
Ryan Livingston was named the director of basketball operations at Minnesota in May 2015. He was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Basketball Operations in the summer of 2020.
In his role, Livingston oversees all daily operations of the Gopher Basketball program. He serves as the liaison to athletic administration and the Lindahl Academic Center, manages scheduling, housing and campus relations. During Livington’s tenure, the Gophers have made incredible progress academically, posting program-record grade point averages and graduation rates.
Livingston arrived at Minnesota after three seasons at Villanova, where he served as the Wildcats’ special assistant to the head coach. In that role, Livingston had oversight of all video operations including scouting, team breakdowns, and advanced statistics.
His prior experience includes one season as the head varsity coach at Hawthorne (N.J.) Christian Academy and seven years on the coaching staff at his alma mater, Eastern University in St. David’s, Pa.
Livingston played four years and was twice team captain, and also competed and coached on several foreign tours with Athletes in Action.
Livingston is a 2004 graduate of Eastern, where he also added a Masters in Education in 2009 along with a Masters in educational leadership from Villanova. He resides in Plymouth with his wife, Megan, and two young sons.
Collin Southworth
Recruiting Coordinator
Collin Southworth joined the Golden Gopher men's basketball program in 2021 as its recruiting coordinator. Southworth came to Minnesota after a two-year stint at Olivet Nazarene University. At ONU, Southworth assisted with daily floor instruction and skill development as well as prepare film, scouting reports and recruiting. He was also the head coach of the junior varsity program in 2020-21 and held transportation responsibilities for both the varsity and junior varsity teams.
Prior to his time at Olivet Nazarene, Southworth was a student assistant at Xavier from 2017-19. During his time there, he assisted with recruiting visits and managed their recruiting database. He also assisted with game film editing, in-game statistics for the coaching staff and oversaw the operations for the staff on the team's 16 student managers. A Xavier student manager himself from 2016-17, Southworth was also an event operator with Hoop Group Academic Elite Camp from 2018-19.
Southworth graduated from Xavier in 2019 with a sports management degree. He went on to earn a master's degree at Olivet Nazarene University in organization leadership in May of 2021.