The University of Utah made the decision to dismiss men’s basketball coach Craig Smith on Monday, following a narrow 76-72 defeat to Central Florida that left the team with a 15-12 record for the season. Smith, who started his tenure with the Utes four years ago, managed to secure a record of 65-62 during his time with the team.
Assistant coach Josh Eilert will step into the role as interim head coach while the search for a permanent replacement is undertaken. Despite the setback against Central Florida, the Utah team had also achieved notable victories over then-17th ranked Kansas and Kansas State.
The Utes currently hold a 7-9 record within the Big 12 Conference, having also reached the semifinals of last year’s National Invitation Tournament when they were part of the Pac-12. Athletic director Mark Harlan reflected on Smith’s tenure, acknowledging 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.
Despite these accomplishments, Harlan cited the need for the program to reach greater heights within both the Big 12 Conference and the national landscape, with an aim to consistently qualify for 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,” Harlan remarked.
Prior to joining the University of Utah, Smith spent three seasons at Utah State, where he achieved a commendable record of 74-24 with the Aggies. He also held a coaching position at South Dakota.
Looking forward, Harlan is optimistic about finding the right candidate to lead the program back to the forefront of college basketball. “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,” he stated.