A look at each player and coach from the 1997 Final Four Gophers team. Each player is listed with his hometown in parathensis.
The 1997 Gophers' Final Four team: Where are they now?
Gophers fans won't soon forget the accomplishments of the 1997 basketball team. Here's an update on the players and coaches who led Minnesota to its only Final Four appearance.
Russ Archambault (Sartell, Minn.)
1997: Freshman point guard who played in 26 games as a reserve.
Now: Lives in Rapid City, S.D.; has a son who was a senior guard for Stevens H.S.
Eric Harris (New York, N.Y.)
1997: Starting junior point guard who was a team leader and top defender.
Now: Lives back home in New York City and works as a basketball trainer.
Bobby Jackson (Salisbury, N.C.)
1997: Big Ten Player of the Year; senior led team in scoring and assists.
Now: Works for the Sacramento Kings, his former NBA team, as a radio analyst.
Sam Jacobson (Cottage Grove)
1997: High-flying junior wing from Minnesota ranked second in scoring.
Now: Lives in Apple Valley and runs his own business; facing criminal theft charges.
Courtney James (Indianapolis)
1997: Intimidating inside presence and leading rebounder as a sophomore.
Now: Head boys' basketball coach for Washington H.S. in Indianapolis.
Quincy Lewis (Little Rock, Ark.)
1997: Valuable freshman forward and future star was top bench scorer.
Now: Works for the U in a student-athlete development role. "Always been a Gopher," he said.
Kevin Loge (Morris, Minn.)
1997: A 6-10 freshman from Minnesota who redshirted.
Now: Lives in Morris and works on a farm that produces corn and beans.
Kyle Sanden (Thief River Falls)
1997: A 6-11 freshman from Minnesota who redshirted.
Now: Lives in St. Louis Park and works in the Twin Cities.
Jason Stanford (Milwaukee)
1997: Twin brother of Jermaine and rarely used sophomore forward.
Now: Works as a software engineer in Minnesota.
Jermaine Stanford (Milwaukee)
1997: Twin brother of Jason and rarely used sophomore forward.
Now: Works as a software engineer for General Mills in Detroit.
Aaron Stauber (Sheboygan, Wisc.)
1997: Senior walk-on reserve guard and transfer from Michigan Tech.
Now: Chiropractor in Ontario for the last 10 years.
Miles Tarver (Oakland, Calif.)
1997: Sophomore forward brought energy and rebounding off the bench.
Now: Head boys' basketball coach for Head Royce H.S. in Oakland, Calif.
Charles Thomas (Harlan, Kent.)
1997: Former Kentucky Mr. Basketball was offensive spark off the bench.
Now: Head girls' basketball coach at Sayre High School; Lives in Lexington.
John Thomas (Minneapolis)
1997: Bruising force in the paint and senior center for hometown program.
Now: National manager of training for Ultimate Hoops and lives in Minneapolis.
Trevor Winter (Slayton, Minn.)
1997: Backup center and 7-footer who played in 34 games as a senior.
Now: Lives in Slayton, MN; works as territory manager for Stryker Corporation.
COACHES
Clem Haskins, head coach (Campbellsville, KY)
1997: In 11th season as Gophers coach; named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Now: Retired from coaching; lives on the farm where he grew up in Kentucky.
Larry Davis, asst. (Mt. Sterling, Kent.)
1997: In his third season on Haskins' staff at Minnesota.
Now: Assistant coach at Cincinnati under Mick Cronin; coached in NCAA tourney.
Charles Cunningham, asst. (Pickensville, Ala.)
1997: In his first season on Haskins' staff at Minnesota.
Now: First-year boys' basketball coach at Arlington Country Day in Fla.
Bill Brown, asst. (Springfield, Mo.)
1997: In his third season on Haskins' staff at Minnesota.
Now: Former Parkview basketball coach in Missouri; lives in Springfield.
about the writer
Associate head coach Kristen Kelsay said it took a “dream come true” to get her to depart after two seasons with head coach Keegan Cook.