Official Utah basketball coach candidates thread.

[woot]

If it makes you feel any better, I was similarly pissed about the Michigan football hire, as they fired an above-average coach only to settle, a month later, for the guy that was begging for the job from day one.

Since then, he's said all the right things, made some really good staff hires, and has everybody pretty excited about the potential of the team. Maybe Larry K will work out. I'd like to see Utah make some strides and be respectable in the P12.

[Maximus]

If it makes you feel any better, I was similarly pissed about the Michigan football hire, as they fired an above-average coach only to settle, a month later, for the guy that was begging for the job from day one.

Since then, he's said all the right things, made some really good staff hires, and has everybody pretty excited about the potential of the team. Maybe Larry K will work out. I'd like to see Utah make some strides and be respectable in the P12.

If Larry K's last two jobs were taking 2 crappy programs and turning one into a 20 win team that sucks after he leaves and takes another program that has never been good to the NCAA tourny, people would be more excited.

As suck, Larry K was in college, what 5 years ago and then got fired in the NBA and was an assistant.

[woot]

If Larry K's last two jobs were taking 2 crappy programs and turning one into a 20 win team that sucks after he leaves and takes another program that has never been good to the NCAA tourny, people would be more excited.

As suck, Larry K was in college, what 5 years ago and then got fired in the NBA and was an assistant.

True enough. I don't know anything about the new guy. It seems there must be some reason Hill picked him over the other guy, as I would assume Hill understands that his job is on the line as much as anybody.

I would also say that I didn't expect Utah to get a good coach this go-round, as their program is in shambles right now. It wouldn't take an amazing coach to put together a couple decent years, have some luck on recruits, and get the program back to respectability. Cleveland, McBride, etc.

[scottie]

http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031211aaa.html

March 12, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY -
University of Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill announced today that he has relieved men's basketball coach Jim Boylen of his duties. A national search for Boylen's replacement will begin immediately.

"I feel it is time we go in a different direction with our program," said Hill. "Utah basketball has a long history of national success and I anticipate a very strong pool of candidates for the position. I appreciate the efforts of Coach Boylen and his staff, including the emphasis he placed on academics, which is an important part of our department's culture."

[hostile]

Back up from the cliff, MP. This may serve a wake up call for the program. You can't live off previous accomplishment. Hopefully, Hill and the merry band of boosters will realize that a rosy tradition is not enough to lure a top name. Time to invest in the facilities(and not just an upgrade for the huntsman), time to work on improving relationship with the students and recent alumni, etc, etc, etc.

I would have hoped that the past 2 coaching hires would have served as a wake up call. I wasn't expecting much with this hire but if the rumors are true I don't see Krystkowiak as someone who will inspire enthusiasm in the fans/boosters. I'll still root for the team but I'm not jumping in head first if this is the new coach. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twicethree times shame on me.

[old_gregg]

worst case-this is a wake up call for hill, et al., and causes a significant shift in utah basketball's trajectory.

best case-krystkowiak spends five years leading utah to two one and dones and one sweet 16 run.

[Mormon Red Death]

If it makes you feel any better, I was similarly pissed about the Michigan football hire, as they fired an above-average coach only to settle, a month later, for the guy that was begging for the job from day one.

Since then, he's said all the right things, made some really good staff hires, and has everybody pretty excited about the potential of the team. Maybe Larry K will work out. I'd like to see Utah make some strides and be respectable in the P12.

Woot Brady Hoke is ten times the hire of Rich Rod. Hoke will win from day one.

[LA Ute]

I'm probably just venting.

And what better place to do that than the warm, nurturing embrace of CUF?

[Cutty]

This is very perplexing. You want someone with D1 experience so you go and hire a guy that coached at Montana for a whopping two years and hasn't been in the college game in five? He has no ties to Utah or the west and minimal ties to the college game in general. The Utes need a builder and he hasn't spent more than two years at any stop. Gottfried at least built Alabama up from the ground floor. The Utah job isn't a great job right now (no established coach is coming to Utah to make $1M a year, let alone now when the program is down), but you just hired a guy that got passed over for the Boise job last year. He just seems like a hybrid of Giac and Boylen.

Montana fans speak highly of his coaching abilities but they also questioned whether he cares to put in the time recruiting. He better bring in a GREAT staff.

[U-Ute]

To me, K is a big unknown. I don't know why people are already in a tailspin over this. There is really not enough data to make a real judgement on.

To me, he sounds like he is a chrismatic, hard working, driven kind of guy like Meyer. Which could turn out to be a fantastic choice, if he can surround himself with guys who know how to recruit the west.

At 2 pm today, he becomes my coach. I, for one, plan on supporting him.

Ki Yi!

[Cutty]

Blaine Taylor has a much better pedigree than Krysto, openly expressed interest in the job in a VA paper but wasn't even interviewed. That makes me question Hill's foresight and knowledge of the college coaching landscape. He's apparently been putting together a list since January and this is the best you come up with?

[TripletDaddy]

To me, K is a big unknown. I don't know why people are already in a tailspin over this. There is really not enough data to make a real judgement on.

To me, he sounds like he is a chrismatic, hard working, driven kind of guy like Meyer. Which could turn out to be a fantastic choice, if he can surround himself with guys who know how to recruit the west.

At 2 pm today, he becomes my coach. I, for one, plan on supporting him.

Ki Yi!

Tomorrow.

[Surfah]

Wow. Part of me wants to post like 50 of these guys .

But I think in the spirit of conference weekend I will show mercy and extend my condolences. I'm sorry. I just don't get this hire at all. Mitchell P Funk you have every right to rant. Frankly, I don't know how you other guys aren't singing his song right now either. Things may end up well as sometimes these things do, but as of today the Magic 8-Ball says "Outlook not so good."

[Jarid in Cedar]

Wow. Part of me wants to post like 50 of these guys
But I think in the spirit of conference weekend I will show mercy and extend my condolences. I'm sorry. I just don't get this hire at all. Mitchell P Funk you have every right to rant. Frankly, I don't know how you other guys aren't singing his song right now either. Things may end up well as sometimes these things do, but as of today the Magic 8-Ball says "Outlook not so good."

You might want to remove the one jiggy guy. Not a good time to pile on even if it is just a little.

[Cutty]

Back up from the cliff, MP. This may serve a wake up call for the program. You can't live off previous accomplishment. Hopefully, Hill and the merry band of boosters will realize that a rosy tradition is not enough to lure a top name. Time to invest in the facilities(and not just an upgrade for the huntsman), time to work on improving relationship with the students and recent alumni, etc, etc, etc.

Also: time to spend more money on a coach.

It will be interesting to see the terms and length of the contract. If the reports of Utah offering just a shade over $1M a year are true... well, it's no surprise that Krysto and Gottfried were the final choices.