DES MOINES, Iowa — Channel 13’s Keith Murphy has confirmed Drake University Men’s basketball coach Niko Medved is leaving the team to become the new head coach at Colorado State University.
Medved took over as Drake head coach just last year. He led to the team to a 17-17 record and fourth place conference finish, their best since winning the Missouri Valley Conference in 2008.
Drake Director of Athletics Brian Hardin released a statement saying, “We are disappointed by this news but remain excited and confident about the trajectory of the Drake men’s basketball program. The success of our men’s basketball program has been a team effort that is a reflection of the tremendous young men in our program. Our success is not defined by an individual and we are confident in the sustainable success of the Drake men’s basketball program. As always, we remain committed to our student-athletes and, in the ever-present wisdom of the late Paul Morrison, we are ‘All in this together.'”
Medved was hired less than a year ago on March 26, 2017 after spending four years at Furman leading them to a regular season conference championship in the 2016-17 season, and was named Southern Conference coach of the year.
Medved will replace Former Colorado State University coach Larry Eustachy. Eustachy coached at Iowa State University from 1998 to 2003.
Hardin says Dave Thorson will serve as the interim head coach while a nation search is conducted for a new head coach for the men’s basketball program.
ESPN, Denver Post and Barstool previously reported the news.