University of Minnesota Athletics
Don Zierden Named Radio Analyst for Gopher Basketball
10/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Gopher Sports Properties, in conjunction with the Minnesota men’s basketball program, today named Don Zierden the team’s radio analyst for the upcoming season. Zierden will team with Gopher play-by-play announcer Mike Grimm on the Gopher Radio Network. Grimm and Zierden are set to call every Gopher regular and postseason game along with the team’s exhibition contest against St. Cloud State on Nov. 3.
“Don has an incredible knowledge of the game of basketball and certainly isn’t the first coach to sit in the color analyst chair,” said Gopher Sports Properties General Manager Greg Gerlach. “However, Don is very natural in that role and has comfort in his call which really shows. I think Gopher Basketball fans will enjoy hearing his analysis. He’s a Minnesota guy and really cares about the program.”
Zierden, the current head coach of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, was introduced as the franchise’s fifth head coach on December 13, 2006. Prior to joining the Lynx, the Minneapolis native spent time with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves on the staff of former Gopher Flip Saunders. Other coaching stops included the Pittsburgh Piranhas and La Crosse Catbirds and Bobcats of the CBA, the University of Tulsa and De La Salle High School.
"I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity with the University of Minnesota," said U of M radio analyst and Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Don Zierden. "Mike Grimm is one of the best in the business and together, we hope to take Gophers radio broadcasts to another level this season. I've coached at every level of basketball and am anxious to get started and see how my experience behind the bench translates to the broadcast booth. The University of Minnesota men's basketball program is on the rise and I'm excited and very fortunate to be a part of it."
Zierden’s coaching career began at De La Salle High School in Minneapolis, his alma mater. He became one of two rookie high school coaches in Minnesota history to take their team to a state basketball title (Class A State Championship) in 1985. His next stop was at the University of Tulsa, where he coached along side Saunders and current Gopher Associate Head Coach Ron Jirsa from 1986 to 1988.
Grimm returns for a third season as the voice of the Gophers. In addition to his basketball play-by-play duties, Grimm also serves as the co-host for “The Tubby Smith Show” and “The Tim Brewster Show” on the Gopher Radio Network. Grimm also serves as the pre-game, halftime, and post-game host for Golden Gopher football radio broadcasts. In addition, Grimm produces and anchors “The Golden Gopher Daily Update” heard all across Minnesota on the Gopher Radio Network.
"I am excited to have the chance to work alongside Coach Zierdan. There's no doubt in my mind that he will bring a great combination of personality and deep basketball knowledge to our listeners,” said Grimm. “He is well known and well liked within Minnesota basketball circles and that is important. With the direction that Coach Smith has the program headed, it is an exciting time for Golden Gopher hoops. I'm really looking forward to the start of the new season."
The Gophers open the regular season at Williams Arena on Friday, Nov. 14, against Concordia-St. Paul in the first game of the NABC Classic, a four-team round-robin tournament hosted by the University of Minnesota. Game two will pit the Gophers against Bowling Green on Saturday, Nov. 15 with game three taking place on Sunday, Nov. 16 against Georgia State.
Single-game and season tickets are still available for the 2008-09 season. Fans interested in purchasing tickets may call the ticket office at 612-624-8080, or toll free at 1-800-U-GOPHER. Tickets may also be purchased through Minnesota’s official athletics department website, www.gophersports.com.
