"When I went out looking for coach, what I wanted, first and foremost, was someone that has passion for mentoring and teaching young men, the ability to communicate at the very highest of levels, and to develop deep, deep relationships," he added. A native of Stephen, Minn., a small town in the northern part of the state encompassing less than a full square mile, Smith is a 1996 graduate of the University of North Dakota. (23-7), Thomas & Mack Center Thats the oft-expressed opinion of those who know the dynamic father of four from the tiny town of Stephen, Minnesota, who energized the Aggies foundering program after Tim Duryea was fired in March of 2018. Conference tournament champion, Beginnings as assistant coach (19962004), Assistant coach at Colorado State and Nebraska (20072014), Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 04:53, "Miles, Smith hope to turn around another team", "CSU Adds Three to Men's Basketball Staff", "Confident Craig Smith takes hoops helm for USD", "South Dakota's Craig Smith named men's basketball coach at Utah State", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Craig_Smith_(basketball,_born_1972)&oldid=1141661473, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 04:53. Anyone who takes to the road in a car needs to be aware of motorcyclists around them. A terrible angle to watch the game, but I could kind of see it.. "My mentality is let's be a part of this program to make it the best possible program you can, and to do that you've got to play and schedule up. That game, as well as next Saturday's season finale at Fresno State, was part of an extra week of the season applied by the conference to help make up games canceled due to COVID-19. The truck came to rest between I-15 and Oldway High 91. On the surface, there is no connection to the Utes, but a deeper look at Smiths coaching life tells a different story. Can he walk the walk? The buyout would begin at $775,000 by March 31, 2021 and tier up incrementally to the maximum price by the end of the sixth season. Terms of the deal were not made public, and BYU as a private university is not subject to public records request. His 25-year coaching career has taken him to NAIA Mayville State (N.D.), Division II programs Northern State (S.D.) His second year in Logan saw much of the same success, again winning the conference tournament and was just 1-of-12 programs to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament before it was canceled due to COVID-19. During his time in Logan, Smith compiled a 74-24 record with the Aggies while leading USU to three-consecutive 20-plus win seasons, two Mountain West Conference Tournament Championships (2019, 2020) and a regular-season championship. We, myself, our coaching staff, our players are going to work our hands to the bone to get us back on top, Smith said. The amendment includes an increase to Smith's media rights and endorsement compensation, primarily in the form of his weekly coach's show on radio and internet streaming to a fee of up to $350,000 by 2025-26. Will he bring the 7-footer to Salt Lake City? The same article mentions that a 2005 Suzuki motorcycle was traveling along S.R. These two deaths bring the total of motorcycle deaths on Utah roads in 2018 to 40. In his final season at USD, Smith led the Coyotes to a 26-9 record and CBI appearance. Also, do not allow other people to operate the motorcycle, especially if they are below the legal driving age, do not have the correct license, or have a bad driving record. Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) troopers responded to a reported crash in the area of milepost 71 on I-15 around 6:59 a.m. Smith may have already picked up his first victory, winning the hastily called news conference via Zoom just before noon Saturday with the kind of boundless enthusiasm and passion that USU fans were just getting accustomed to seeing in Logan. Before this accident, the number of motorcycle accidents was already higher than in previous years. Lets bring in great teams to Salt Lake City and we will return the favor, he said. Although Utah is not the state with the highest number of motorcycle accident deaths per year, any is too many. This performance earned them their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2011. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network from Extra Mile Arena in Boise, Idaho. Neemias Queta also saw success at Utah State, collecting freshman of the year honors and defensive player of the year accolades at the end of the 2019 campaign. archived form does not constitute a republication of the story. [3] Smith's last season in 2017 with the Coyotes ended 269, with a 2nd-place finish in the Summit League both in the regular season and conference tournament, the Coyotes would later fall to North Texas in the 2018 College Basketball Invitational first round 77-90. But at Utah State, Smith has found another level of success. Born November 23, 1970, in. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax As we have reported previously, motorcycles are unique in the challenges they confront on the road. Interrupting his contemplation, a group of students summoned the . According to the article, around 2:40 in the afternoon, a Toyota Tacoma was turning left on state Route 164 around Benjamin in Utah County when it hit an oncoming motorcycle. Smith came to Salt Lake City with some familiarity, having served as the head coach at Utah State the past three seasons up in Logan. Smith was named the NABC District 12 Coach of the Year for his efforts after leading USD to just its second Division I conference championship. With lessons learned 20-plus years ago, and with that San Antonio-based anecdote clearly fresh in his mind in the two weeks since taking over at Utah, Smith now embarks on a coaching journey he seemingly always hoped would be a possibility. He is not quite BYU coach Mark Pope when it comes to spewing out hyperbole, but hes close. Government agencies are responsible for managing the roads. He met with Utahs players Saturday morning, and began the process of re-recruiting some to the program. 4 ranking, Utah women's basketball making history, Police say man killed by Farmington officers had gun; victim's mom filed suit over other traffic stop, Asteroid-bashing spacecraft was out of this world, 'phenomenally successful', Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder, Utah father investigated for child abuse weeks before murder-suicide, 14-year-old uses social media to track down man accused of robbing him. Smith has already talked to the players currently on the roster and plans to meet with them individually in the coming days, potentially even the guys that have shown their intent to transfer. only for your personal, non-commercial use. Smith said he messaged his former USU players with the news when he accepted the Utah job, but had not met with them personally. Estimated read time: 7-8 minutes. From Mayville State to his most recent stop at Utah State, Smith creates a winning culture and instantly. Utah State would have gone to three NCAA Tournaments under Smith in as many seasons, had the COVID-19 pandemic not canceled the 2020 Big Dance. The deal also sets aside a salary pool of $565,000 for Smith's coaching staff, currently divided between Austin Hansen, David Ragland and top assistant Eric Peterson. It takes courage, it takes a strong backbone, it takes an incredible amount of belief in your coaches and yourself and your teammates to do that. This archived news story is available Smith spent two seasons (2012-14) at Nebraska as an assistant coach after spending five seasons as an assistant at Colorado State (2007-12). Our motto is bring on the competition. Smith was named the NAIA II National Coach of the Year when the Comets defended their regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the National Championship game in 2007. We had three tremendous years at Utah State and delivered what we said we were going to deliver, he said. According to a news article featured on KSL's website, another two motorcycle riders were killed in accidents on Sunday. IRON COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) A man is dead and another man is in serious condition after a crash in Iron County early Sunday morning. And all this is playing out during a global pandemic that threatened to bring college sports to a halt, including canceling the NCAA Tournament last year. Asked about staffing and whether he will keep some current Utah assistants on The Hill, Smith said no final decisions have been made and he will certainly talk to all of them, along with his former assistants at USU. minutes. road losses to league-leading Boise State, As Aggies lead Mountain West (again), details emerge of Craig Smith's amended 6-year contract, Missed opportunities: Aggies swept on road as Boise State rallies for key win, The case for Utah State: Where the Aggies fall on the NCAA Tournament bubble, Ashworth, Aggies blow by Rebels to keep NCAA Tournament aspirations alive, Aggies stave off Cowboys to come away with ugly win, The 'cherry on the top': Aggies scoring leader Jaycee Carroll honored with jersey retirement, Salt Lake's All-Star experience perfect fit for homegrown Frank Jackson, Neemias Queta, Utah State, Dan Akin nab convincing road victory over Fresno State, Police say man killed by Farmington officers had gun; victim's mom filed suit over other traffic stop, Asteroid-bashing spacecraft was out of this world, 'phenomenally successful', Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder, Utah father investigated for child abuse weeks before murder-suicide, 14-year-old uses social media to track down man accused of robbing him. In the final year (2025-26), Smith will make $900,000. introduced as the newest men's basketball coach, three Utah players entering the transfer portal, Utes ink deal with Utah State's Craig Smith to make him next men's basketball coach, Craig Smith's great Aggie turnaround could lead to big opportunities soon, ex-boss says, Here are the details of Utah State's recently formalized extension with Craig Smith through 2026, Utah women upset in quarterfinal round of Pac-12 Tournament to Washington State. "We're excited about it. He saw dejection, and heads down, and some of them with arms around each others shoulders. Barring any more transfers, and if hes able to persuade Allen, Battin or both to stay, Smith will inherit a talented roster at Utah, and will have plenty of open scholarships with the departures of the aforementioned. He has earned four conference coach of the year awards (2006, 2007, 2017, 2019) in three different conferences and was named NAIA II National Coach of the Year Award in 2007, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District 12 Coach of the Year Award in 2017, and NABC District 17 Coach of the Year and USBWA District VIII Coach of the Year in 2019. On Saturday, the 48-year-old head coach donned a red jacket with the . If a driver is distracted or fails to obey the rules and regulations of the road, he/she will be held responsible for the accident. ST. GEORGE On Sunday evening around 7:15 p.m., a local man riding a 2004 Harley Davidson collided with the passenger side of a 2004 Chevrolet Classic as it turned left across his lane on South Green Springs Drive. ", He added that he wants to recruit "winners" or the guys he calls "gym rats," the athletes that want nothing more than basketball in their life. According to the article, around 2:40 in the afternoon, a Toyota Tacoma was turning left on state Route 164 around Benjamin in Utah County . The Aggies paid South Dakota, Smith's previous stop, a buyout of $206,250 when they hired Smith in 2018 when the initial hire was made. I have had my eye on Craig Smith for a while, Harlan said. Smith was also the head coach at Mayville State from 2004 to 2007, at South Dakota from 2014 to 2018, and at Utah State from 2018 to 2021. Smith saw immediate success in his first season at USU, leading it to an overall record of 28-7 which was the most wins by a first-year head coach at USU and third-most wins overall in school history. The broadside collision occurred when the driver made a U-turn into the path of another car. At the 98 Final Four, Smith took good care to try to understand how Majerus built that roster, and he has taken good care in building his own rosters, which has spearheaded winning at all three head coaching jobs he has taken on. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. A motorcycle rider must take more safety precautions than the driver of a car. At that time, a car was pulling out of a driveway. [3] Returning to North Dakota, Smith was an assistant coach at Minot State from 1998 to 2001. UHP said the crash was not visible to drivers passing by until daylight. My motto has always been Bring on the competition. I think it is very important to play a very strong non-conference schedule.. We have incredible expectations for this program.". The Alamodome configuration for that Final Four allowed for roughly 40,000 seats, but given Smiths standing in his profession at the time, he was merely happy to be in the building. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP), Eli Lucero, The Herald Journal via Associated Press. Interstate 215 (I-215), also known locally as the belt routeis an auxiliary interstate in the U.S. state of Utah that forms a 270-degree loop around Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs. We are going to recruit nationally and internationally, he said. Both of its postseason appearances since then, the 2017 NIT and the 2018 CBI, came under Smiths watch. Woman injured in snowmobile, tubing accident in Peter Sinks; Company plans 4,700 acres of solar development in Bear Lake County; Astle, Ernest David; Can he walk the walk? What happened during the 2023 Utah Legislature? One is dead and several others are injured after a stolen pickup truck hit two pedestrians and caused a four-car crash at an intersection at 4100 S Redwood Rd. Officials believe the accident happened when Goertzen failed to negotiate [] Overall, Smith guided nine players who totaled 11 all-conference accolades including Matt Mooney, a two-time first-team all-conference honoree and two-time NABC All-District 12 recipient. Salt Lake City Police say at around 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, a motorcyclist was traveling south on 300 West near 900 South. Smith signed an agreement in late 2020 to stay with Utah State through the 2024 season, a six-year amendment confirmed by a new contract obtained Tuesday by KSL.com via a public-records request. Utahs climate is determined by its distance from the equator; its elevation above sea level; the location of the state with respect to the average storm paths over the Intermountain Region; and its distance from the principal moisture sources of the area, which are the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. But obviously we believe in Craig; every day, that guy amazes me.". The new contract begins with a base salary of $775,000 for this season. This program has a rich tradition of excellence in the history of college basketball., Utah State coach Craig Smith celebrates after a score against UNLV during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Logan, Utah. The event, which tips off in the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, will be held without fans and other spectators due to virus protocols. New Utah Utes head mens basketball coach Craig Smith at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday, March 27, 2021. Here at The Advocates Law Firm, we are very concerned with safety on our roads and highways. Seeing them in the tournament these last three years has been an incredible achievement by coach and everybody up there. Reading or replaying the story in its Two international players Norbert Thelissen of The Netherlands and Lazar Stefanovic of Serbia have signed in the past year and were set to join the team for the 2021-22 season before Krystkowiak was dismissed. After going 17-17 in 2017-18 under Duryea, the Aggies went 28-7 in 2018-19, 26-8 in 2019-2020 and 20-9 in 2020-2021. 2. If Smith terminates the contract, the coach (or his new employer) would owe the university 25% of the pro-rated contract for the remainder of the terms, according to the deal. He said he wants to play as many Quad 1 opponents as possible to build Utahs NET ranking and strength of schedule. Information in the story may be outdated Utah was 6-1 at home, its only loss to then-No. He also spent time as an assistant at Nebraska and Colorado State, and went 72-29 in three seasons at Mayville State in North Dakota, including an appearance in the NAIA Division II championship game in his third season. For the time being, everyone interested in the Utah basketball program will have to take Smith at his word, which hasn't been a bad option so far. Smith will likely double or even triple his salary, after signing a deal last December with Utah State that would have paid him $5.025 million over six years. But for Smith, it's about making sure his players that are committed to the program are locked in and surrounded by a culture of winning. Smith stayed within the Big Sky footprint and was as an assistant at Minot State from 1999-2001 before serving as an assistant coach under Tim Miles at North Dakota State (2002-04) with whom he would later work at Colorado State and Nebraska. Smith took in Kentucky outlasting Stanford in overtime in one national semifinal, then watched Utah build a 13-point halftime lead on North Carolina before winning, 65-59. Patrick Kinahan: Speculation continues to swirl around Pac-12 future, Runnin' Utes face dilemma without Rollie Worster, Gabe Madsen against LA schools, With program-high No. In 25 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 10 as a head coach, Smith has been to postseason play 13 times, while winning four regular-season and four postseason conference championships. ", Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Craig Smith Death - Obituary: According to the post made by TJ Menlove on his Facebook page, Craig Smith has died in a fatal motorcycle accident. According to Sgt Melody Cutler of the Unified Police Department, officers responded to a report of a crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle near 4600 S. on Redwood Road. "It's hard not to see the unbelievable success that has gone on in Logan, Utah, over these last few years. The new amendment also sees increases to assistant coaches Eric Peterson, Austin Hansen and David Ragland, with as much as $215,000 for Peterson, the top assistant, according to the contract. Smith is projected to make an annual salary averaging $550,000, tiering up as high as $850,000 in base compensation by 2024. Utah is the 13th-largest, the 33rd-most populous, and the 10th-least-densely populated state in the U.S. Utah has a population of about 2.9 million, approximately 80% of whom live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. Tyrell Bangerter with the St. George Police Department. The 2016-17 season saw South Dakota go 22-12 overall and 12-4 in league play which earned it a spot in the NIT. Prior to taking over the Utah State program, Smith spent four seasons (2015-18) at South Dakota and led the Coyotes to a 79-55 (.590) overall mark including a 38-26 (.594) record in Summit League action. ), Colorado State, Nebraska, South Dakota and, before coming to Salt Lake City, Utah State. (23-7), Thomas & Mack Center The new deal would incrementally add to Smith's base compensation, over the additional two years of his contract at the same rate of his previous deal, according to a copy of the amendment obtained by KSL.com via public records request. His next big step will be finding a coaching staff to complement a roster that will likely undergo some change in the coming days, weeks and months. From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.coms top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly. He said he will look broadly for his assistants, which also applies to his search for players. Three people taken to hospital after serious accident in Southpo - WENY News. There are moments in your life that are defining moments and that was a defining moment, it was a powerful moment for me, Smith said. After moving from Texas to New Mexico to Utah as he grew up, Ammon wound up studying journalism at Utah State University, where he graduated in May 2020. That was by design, athletic director John Hartwell told a local radio station recently. During his time as an assistant, Smith was part of two NCAA Tournament runs, guiding CSU to the Big Dance in 2012 and then the Cornhuskers in 2014. The driver was thrown from the motorcycle and was fatally wounded when he struck the ground. Stock photo.| Photo by Within a week of Krystkowiaks release, Harlan or one of his top administrators personally contacted 8-9 players who were part of Krystkowiaks rotation last season and asked them to be patient and give the new coach a chance before making a decision whether to enter the transfer portal or stay with the program. SALT LAKE CITY Just over a week ago, Craig Smith took his team to the NCAA Tournament for third time in three seasons with Utah State. Platitudes, after all, have little bearing on whether a coach is successful or not following his introduction, but it's safe to say Smith said exactly what he needed to engage a recently apathetic fan base. "We really didn't publicize it. The Aggies earned a spot in the Big Dance his first season after capturing the conference tournament crown and earned the No. This report is based on information provided by law enforcement and may not contain the full scope of findings. "Then we would talk about ball that was really the whole process for me. November 23, 1970 DIED September 9, 2021 AGE 50 LOCATION Riverton, Utah Obituary Broomhead Funeral Home - Riverton Obituary Craig Smith "Big Sexy" of Herriman, UT. The Deseret News has been told that Battin and Allen are not ruling out a return to Utah, if the situation feels right with Smith at the helm. For example, wearing a helmet has been proven to be somewhat effective at preventing death by head injury. Always keep your motorcycle in good condition if you are going to ride it. 1. The former South Dakota coach's .771 winning percentage against Mountain West competition ranks second in league history behind only BYU's Dave Rose (.781) and just ahead of Nevada's Eric Musselman (.741), San Diego State's Brian Dutcher (.726) and Utah's Rick Majerus (.698). In his first season on The Hill, Smith saw big man Branden Carlson earn All-Pac-12 Second-Team honors while Lazar Stefanovic garnered Pac-12 All-Freshman Team accolades. SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4) - A motorcyclist is dead after crashing into a car in Salt Lake City late Wednesday night. A member of Tim Miles' coaching tree, Smith served as an assistant for Miles at four schools Mayville State, North Dakota State, Colorado State, and Nebraska. If the road does not have the proper signage or neglects other areas, the government could be liable for this. Just over a week ago, Craig Smith took his team to the NCAA Tournament for third time in three seasons with Utah State. . Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved. 1 dead, another critically injured in two-vehicle crash with semi-truck on Mountain View Corridor in West Valley City, Utah, Two teens, 13 and 14 years old, struck and seriously injured by vehicle in hit and run on South West Temple Street in Salt Lake City, Utah, One person killed and several injured in collision at 700 West and 31st Street in Ogden, Utah, Zander Jones, 14, dead after being struck by pickup truck in Echo, Utah, Woman dies after her vehicle is hit by oncoming pickup truck on Route 6 in Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah, Five hurt, including three children, when turning car is struck by other vehicle at State Route 56 and Lund Highway in Cedar City, Utah, Branson Harward, 19, and Jordan McCluskey, 20, both die, other passenger in critical condition when their vehicle hits building at Washington Boulevard and Riverdale Road in Ogden, Utah, Blair Provstgaard, 61, killed when dragged by train on Main Street in Salt Lake City, Utah, Woman bitten 3 times by copperhead snake at Virginia restaurant. He then earned his masters degree in teaching and learning from Northern State while he was a graduate assistant. No question about it, the Utes, 8-7 overall and 1-4 in Pac-12 play, are not in a good spot right now, even as they got back to full strength with the return of 6-foot-10 backup center Dusan Mahorcic on Thursday night.. Smith's club takes a three-game losing streak into Saturday afternoon's contest with . Smith compiled a 79-55 record over four seasons with the Coyotes, including a pair of postseason appearances in the NIT and CBI as well as the 2017 Summit League title. Craig Smith obviously wasnt the University of Utahs first choice to replace Larry Krystkowiak as its next mens basketball coach. Man struck, killed by FrontRunner in Clearfield, West Jordan High teacher arrested, accused of sexual conduct with student, 15-year-old boy dies after being found in crashed car with gunshot wounds, Trapped fox 'severely' injures dog in Draper, prompts warning from city. This is the second deadly motorcycle crash this week. Smith spent two seasons (2012-14) at Nebraska as an assistant coach after spending five seasons as an assistant at Colorado State (2007-12). This archived news story is available "If they took basketball away from them, they might be miserable, right? Two players forward Riley Battin of Oak Park, California, and forward Timmy Allen of Mesa, Arizona have entered the portal or said they would enter since Krystkowiaks firing. "We love Utah State. Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? It'll take players and coaches dialed in and ready to win basketball games in any way they possibly can, he said. Yes, well if peter had done a better job of providing, perhaps patti would not have been working so hard and not been at that place that morning. The Aggies thrived under the direction of Smith with Sam Merrill becoming the first player in MWC history to garner back-to-back conference tournament MVP honors. Josh is the Sports Director for KSL.com and beat writer of University of Utah athletics primarily football, mens basketball and gymnastics. We love it here," Smith said in a statement announcing his extension. Daisy-Daisy/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News, Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved. The Pac-12 and SEC commissioners will be bringing NIL issues to lawmakers, High school girls golf: 3A region recaps, Richfield, Morgan, Union and Judge Memorial claim region titles, High school boys soccer: 3A/2A second round recap from Wednesdays games, It reportedly wont be long until the Mountain West Conference eliminates divisions, Change may be on the way for the transfer portal and college football recruiting. He then earned his masters degree in teaching and learning from Northern State while he was a graduate assistant. After visiting with Mark, it became clear that our vision for Utah basketball were aligned. Following the tips listed above can help you stay safer on the streets. "I've had my eye on Craig Smith for a while," Utah athletics director Mark Harlan said as he introduced his first major coaching hire since taking the position at Utah in 2018. He inherited a team that went 1-25 the previous season and led the Comets to the NAIA National Championship in his final season before departing for Colorado State. It is also expected that senior guard Alfonso Plummer, who is eligible for the extra year granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will chose to move on, although the native of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, has not publicly indicated anything yet. "What it did was, even at the end of this year, he'll have five more years left on his deal; it was really a six-year deal," Hartwell told 106.9 The Fan in Logan last week. my axal broke and my tire flew off there was no cars around me i merged off to left of road as far as i could i was almost tottally off high way then i called police right. Whether people dont see or they misjudge speed or distance we do get a lot of crashes involving left turns.. In 25 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 10 as a head coach, Smith has been to postseason play 13 times, while winning four regular-season and four postseason conference championships. The amendment, which was signed Dec. 22, 2020, and goes into effect immediately, would add $25,000 in base compensation over the remaining years up to $900,000 beginning in the final year, between April 1, 2025 and March 30, 2026. He began his coaching career at Mayville State his first year out of college in 1997 before taking a graduate assistant position at Northern State the year after, and helped the Wolves advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II Tournament. The victim is 59-year-old Bradley L. Goertzen, of Midvale, Utah and he was pronounced dead on the scene by police. "My wife Darcy and I have been married for 25 years, and we have four kids, but my oldest is a sophomore at Utah State. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, but was unconscious and not breathing on scene.. Born in Stephen, Minnesota, Smith graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education and Northern State University in South Dakota with a master's degree in education in 1999. He took a team led by all-time Aggie Sam Merrill and Portuguese shot blocker Neemias Queta to back-to-back Mountain West tournament titles, a regular-season co-championship in his first year, and what would have been back-to-back NCAA Tournament selections in 2019 and 2020 were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Craig Smith Title Men's Basketball Head Coach Email sadams@huntsman.utah.edu Phone 801-581-5451 Craig Smith was named the 16th head coach of the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program on Saturday, March 27, 2021, and begins his second season at the helm in 2022-23.