Jim Dutcher (basketball)

Jim Dutcher is a former head basketball coach at the University of Minnesota.

Dutcher took over the Gophers program in 1975 following the departure of Bill Musselman, previously having been a head coach at Eastern Michigan University and an assistant coach at the University of Michigan under Johnny Orr.^[1] The highlight of his time at Minnesota was 1982, a season in which he led the Gophers to the Big Ten Championship—to date, the last "official" conference title for the Gophers—and a Sweet 16 appearance. He was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

On January 25, 1986, three Gopher players were arrested on rape charges in Madison, Wisconsin. A Madison woman claimed the players raped her at their team hotel hours after the Gophers played the Wisconsin Badgers. The entire team and coaching staff, including Dutcher, was detained at Dane County Regional Airport for questioning. After the arrests, U of M officials canceled the Gophers' next scheduled game, against Northwestern, citing the arrests and a series of less serious incidents prior to the arrests. Feeling the decision was unfair, Dutcher resigned; he'd already planned to retire after the 1985-86 season. All three players were ultimately acquitted.

Head coaching record

% Records unofficial due to NCAA sanctions from former coach bill musselman (0-27,0-18) ^ Team was banned from any postseason tournament from 1976–1978 $ Dutcher resigned midseason;he was replaced by Jimmy Williams & Dutcher's record before the sanctions was (190-113,98-89}but because of the sanctions,it is (166-137,83-89.

References

• 2006-2007 Gopher Men's Basketball Media Guide