He is out after the Utes ended 12-13 in their first losing season since 2013. The national search for a successor will start immediately.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes coach Larry Krystkowiak celebrates the game as the University of Utah hosts the Arizona Wildcats on February 4, 2021 at Jon M. Huntsman Arena.
The University of Utah is looking for a new male basketball coach.
In a heavily worded statement late Tuesday afternoon, Utes sports director Mark Harlan announced that Larry Krystkowiak has been sacked after 10 seasons in charge of one of the region’s attractive Power Five coaching positions.
“Today, I informed male basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak that I am making a change in the leadership of our men’s basketball program,” said Harlan’s statement. “The decision comes after a thorough evaluation of the program – on and off the court – as I do with every head coach at the end of their seasons. Ultimately, our program needs a new voice, a new vision and a new leader who can build on Larry’s foundation and take us to greater heights in the years to come. “
Krystkowiak’s departure comes five days after Utah fell in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament to USC 91-85. The defeat ended the Utah season at 12-13, his first campaign lost since 2013. This was Krystkowiak’s second season in the USA, when his team finished with 15-18 overall and 5-13 in Pac-12.
In his post-game comments after the USC game, Krystkowiak was almost crying at first, and eventually gave a passionate defense of the program’s state in the midst of a handful of skinny years without a post-season appearance.
“I have no doubts, as opposed to a lot of noise, that this is a program on the rise,” said Krystkowiak. “We have a lot of young players playing, we have guys who want to get in the balance, we have a lot of people of high character. I have no reason to believe otherwise. “
Krystkowiak did not respond to several attempts to contact him on Tuesday night.
In his 10 seasons, Krystkowiak has accumulated a record 183-139. The two appearances of the Utah NCAA Tournament under the supervision of Krystkowiak took place in 2015 (Sweet 16) and 2016 (second round). Since those two March Madness trips, Utah has been to NIT twice, including the 2018 championship game, but hasn’t appeared in the postseason since.
Krystkowiak has two years and about $ 7 million of total compensation remaining in his contract. In 2015, leaving the Sweet 16 season and with the program’s trajectory on the rise, Krystkowiak signed an extension to keep him in Salt Lake City until the 2022-23 season. Krystkowiak will now receive the outstanding balance.
According to Harlan, “the costs associated with this termination and the hiring of a new technician and team will be fully financed by athletically generated resources. We will launch an immediate national search for a new head coach. “
What exactly “athletically generated resources” means is unclear, but this may include the help of high-level donors and sponsors in paying for the acquisition of Krystkowiak and / or in paying for a new head coach and his team.
How much of the acquisition will actually come from athletics department resources is also unclear. Utah athletic director Mark Harlan told The Salt Lake Tribune in January that the department predicted a $ 35 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2021.
Harlan should not use a search company to identify his next head coach. The first names to keep an eye on as the search for training unfolds are Utah State coach Craig Smith, Colorado State coach Niko Medved and Saint Mary coach Randy Bennett.
A potential wildcard option to consider is Johnnie Bryant.
A former University of Utah standout in the last two seasons of Ray Giacoletti’s tenure, Bryant spent two seasons as a player development assistant with Jazz, plus another six as a technical assistant to Quin Snyder. He is currently Tom Thibodeau’s associate head coach on the New York Knicks. Bryant, 35, knows the landscape and understands expectations in Salt Lake City, but his lack of experience as a college coach is reason for a break.