Utah has fired men’s basketball coach Craig Smith after nearly four seasons, the school announced Monday. The Utes fell to 15-12 and 7-9 in the Big 12 conference after losing at UCF on Sunday.
Athletic director Mark Harlan expressed gratitude for Smith’s work but stated that a change is needed to reach Utah’s aspirations of regularly competing in the NCAA tournament. Harlan will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Smith, who leaves with a 65-62 record, was under contract and owed approximately $5 million from his six-year deal signed in 2021. His previous coaching stints include two NCAA tournaments at Utah State and a Summit League championship at South Dakota.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/43998940/sources-utah-firing-men-basketball-coach-craig-smith