Utah has fired men’s basketball coach Craig Smith after nearly four seasons, it was declared on Monday.
After losing to UCF on Sunday, Utes fell to 15–12- and 7-9 in Big 12. Utah defeated Canasus and Canasus State in the back-to-back game earlier this month and won by BYU.
Athletic director Mark Harlan said in a statement, “I want to thank Craig for his work and commitment since coming to Salt Lake City.” “They have inspired us to win special moments and memorable victories, and Craig has put his heart in the creation of our current team.
“However, we have more aspirations for our men’s basketball programs … and our expectation regularly has to compete in NCAA tournament. … I believe that we believe that we have to go to get a one to get it. Change is now required to start that process.
Harlan said that Assistant Coach Josh Iart will work as an interim head coach for the rest of the season.
The 52-year-old Smith leaves Utah with a 65–62 record. Sources told ESPN that he owed about $ 5 million from a fully guaranteed six -year contract, signed in 2021.
Smith has failed to reach the NCAA tournament as a coach as a coach, and he is not on track to hear his name on the selection Sunday this season. Utah won 22 games in the last season but dropped eight of the last 12 regular season sports to get out of consideration for the NCAA tournament. It accepted an NIT invitation and scored a run in the semi -finals.
Utah distanced Smith from the kingdom of Utah, as he directed the Egypt for two NCAA tournaments -it was three if it was three if the 2020 NCAA for Kovid -19 was not to cancel the tournament. Along with Smith, Utah State won a part of the Mountain West Regular-Sector title in 2019, won the conference tournament championship in 2020 and received a big bid in 2021.
Smith was also head coach at South Dakota for four sessions from 2015-18, winning a summit in 2017, League regular-season championship.
