Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY - Things are quiet on the University of Utah's search for a head coach.
Almost too quiet.
Nearly two and a half weeks have passed since the Utes fired Jim Boylen, and aside from speculation and rumors, most fans feel like they have been left in the dark.
Who are the Utes talking to? Who has been interviewed? When can we expect to hear an announcement?
"There are no official comments on the coaching search," Liz Abel, sports information director for the Utes, told the Deseret News.
Sigh.
While most close to the program have been able to keep things quiet, some things have slipped out.
First, the leading candidates for the job right now are former Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried and New Jersey assistant coach Larry Krystkowiak.
Gottfried, a college basketball analyst for ESPN, coached the Alabama Crimson Tide from 1998-2009. He was the first coach in program history to take Alabama to the Elite Eight, which happened in the middle of five straight seasons of making the NCAA Tournament.
Krystkowiak interviewed for the Utah job before Boylen was hired in 2007, but in the middle of discussions he was promoted from assistant to head coach of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. He was later fired after 100 games with a 31-69 record.
Larry's previous experience includes guiding Montana, his alma mater, to a 42-20 record, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
A source close to the University informed me that Krystkowiak was on Utah's "short" list, which was later confirmed when the Nets gave the Utes permission to talk to Larry about the position.
"He's done a great job for us this year," New Jersey Nets head coach Avery Johnson told the New York Post. "If something were ever to happen for Larry, we'd hate to lose him."
Other candidates that have been mentioned:
- BYU head coach Dave Rose - a source close to the basketball program has confirmed that Utah athletics director Chris Hill and Rose have met twice, but whether that was to discuss his potential interest in the job or to gain information on BYU assistant Dave Rice remains to be seen. Rose recently declined interest in the Oklahoma job and is expected to sign a contract extension with the Cougars.
- UNLV head coach Lon Kruger - while I think Lon would be an excellent coach for the Utes, Las Vegas Sun reporter Ryan Greene just tweeted that Lon will be staying with the Rebels.
- Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett - Bennett has declined interest in the Utah job
- Duke associate head coach Steve Wojciechowski - comes from a great background with working with the legendary Coach K., but will the Utes take a chance on someone with no head coaching experience? I don't think so.
- Virginia head coach Tony Bennett - Tony is extremely happy at UVa and has no interest in other jobs
- Butler head coach Brad Stevens - Stevens has taken Butler to Final Fours each of the last two seasons. If he is to leave the Bulldogs, chances are he will take a east coast job.
- LSU head coach Trent Johnson - Johnson, a former Utah assistant, will be staying with the Tigers
Regardless of who the Utes select as their next head coach, the ability to recruit local talent, something that lacked during the Boylen era, has to be weighing into Chris Hill's decision.
Three names that haven't been mentioned that know Utah and could recruit local players are UVU head coach Dick Hunsaker, Westminster head coach Tommy Connor and Weber State head coach Randy Rahe.
Email: rojackson@ksl.com
Twitter: @rojackKSL
