The University of Utah made a significant change to its men’s basketball program by dismissing head coach Craig Smith on Monday. This decision follows a narrow 76-72 defeat at the hands of Central Florida, resulting in the Utes holding a season record of 15-12. Craig Smith, who has been at the helm of the team for four seasons, managed to achieve an overall 65-62 record during his tenure. In the interim, Smith’s responsibilities will be taken over by assistant coach Josh Eilert while the university embarks on the search for a permanent replacement for the role.
Despite the recent loss, the team showcased some noteworthy performances earlier in the season with victories against then-ranked No. 17 Kansas and Kansas State. In the context of the Big 12 Conference, the team’s current performance sees them positioned at 7-9. Reflecting on their achievements from the previous year, Utah demonstrated its potential by advancing to the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament when they were still competing in the Pac-12.
Athletic director Mark Harlan released a statement offering commendation to Smith for his contributions and dedication to the team. “He has led us to special moments and memorable victories, and Craig has poured his heart into building our current team,” said Harlan. “However, we have greater aspirations for our men’s basketball program, both within the Big 12 Conference and nationally, and our expectation is to regularly compete in the NCAA Tournament. After evaluating our program under Craig’s leadership, I believe a change is needed to get us to where we want to go.”
Prior to his role at the University of Utah, Smith had a successful stint at Utah State, leading the team to an impressive 74-24 record over three seasons. He also brought significant experience from his coaching period at South Dakota. The University of Utah remains optimistic in their pursuit of a new head coach. “I am confident that our national search, which has already begun, will lead us to the right coach to take our storied program back to national prominence,” Harlan added.
