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(Salt Lake City) -- Larry Krystkowiak is no stranger to Utah. He spent one of his nine seasons in the NBA as a member of the Utah Jazz. Now this Montana native is thrilled to return to the West as the Head Coach at the University of Utah.
"I love the city of Salt Lake, growing up in Montana this is my kind of idea of where to raise a family," he said. "The basketball tradition, it goes on and on, the campus, the academics that are involved here, moving to the Pac-12. You would be hard pressed to find something about (Utah) that wouldn't attract me."
Taking over the Utah basketball program is a great opportunity as it prepares for a move to the Pac-12 but he is well aware of the issues and challenge he must face in his new post.
"You'll give yourself a headache if you start thinking about every one of those things," he says. "To me, you finish up the press conference, you try to find some coaches, you try to find some players, and it's never going to end. I have never been afraid of working."
Two of the Utes top returning starters, Will Clyburn and J.J. O'Brien, have been granted a release from their scholarships. Both players have said they are open to returning to Utah while they explore other options and Krystkowiak wants them back.
He is already working on recruiting future players. He extended a scholarship offer to West Jordan forward Jordan Loveridge this week. Loveridge already has offers from BYU, Weber State and Colorado State.
