Utah fires basketball coach Craig Smith

Utah fired basketball coach Craig Smith on Monday, effective immediately.

Assistant coach Josh Eilert will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the 2024-25 season.

Smith had a 65-62 record with the Utes, with the team at 15-12 (7-9 Big 12) following a 76-72 loss at UCF on Sunday. That defeat followed big conference wins against then-No. 17 Kansas and Kansas State.

The program did not make the NCAA Tournament under Smith, and in a statement, Utah athletics director Mark Harlan said a record in the .500 range just wasn't good enough.

"I want to thank Craig for his work and commitment since he arrived in Salt Lake City. He has led us to special moments and memorable victories, and Craig has poured his heart into building our current team," Harlan said.

"However, we have greater aspirations for our men's basketball program, both within the Big 12 Conference and nationally, and our expectation is to regularly compete in the NCAA Tournament. After evaluating our program under Craig's leadership, I believe a change is needed to get us to where we want to go. The time is now to begin that process, and we will surround Coach Eilert, the staff and our student-athletes with support as they continue with their season."

Utah has four regular-season games remaining, and rumors have persisted that Utah would need a big finish to save Smith's job.

The Utes are averaging just 75.1 points per game, tied for 141st in the nation, and are allowing 70.8 points per game (140th).

Utah hired Smith, now 52, before the 2021-22 season. He came from Utah State, where his teams were 74-24 and made the NCAA Tournament in two of his three seasons. He previously was the head coach at South Dakota, where he put together a 79-55 record over four seasons.

The pressure to make the NCAA Tournament -- and excel -- will be on the next coach.

The Utes last reached the tournament in 2016, losing in the second round. They were a powerhouse under the late Rick Majerus from 1990-2003, when he led them to the tournament 10 times, including an Elite Eight and Final Four in consecutive seasons from 1996-98.

"We have continued to invest in our men's basketball program, adding staff, increasing compensation and significantly enhancing NIL opportunities with our partners for our student-athletes," Harlan said. "And our investments will only grow. I am confident that our national search, which has already begun, will lead us to the right coach to take our storied program back to national prominence."

--Field Level Media