Craig Smith says he could’ve written a book this offseason.
It wouldn’t have been a romance novel or an autobiography.
Instead, it’d be a drama, a story of turnover, churn and offseason moves that have defined where college basketball is going and how much change can occur in the blink of an eye.
Smith has felt that every step of the way this offseason. The Utes welcome 10 new players — including Caleb Lohner, who might play for the Runnin’ Utes later in the season — to their roster and six new assistants to the coaching staff. That’s 16 new faces in total, more turnover than Smith has had at any point since he took the Utah job in 2021.
“Change is an understatement,” Smith said. “You go through a lot of different phases through that. I mean, there was a stretch there that was really interesting. I could have written a book, and I could have written multiple chapters every day. Change can be hard, but it can be a real blessing as well.
“We’re super excited about all these guys that are new to this program. It’s truly been invigorating in a lot of ways. It’s been an exciting group to be around. They’re just a bunch of go-getters, hardworking, great mentality guys.”
Alongside the changes to his staff, Smith is leading Utah into a new conference in the Big 12. For decades it has been widely considered as the best basketball conference in the NCAA. Last season a Big 12 record and nation-tying eight conference teams made the 64-team NCAA Tournament.
Three seasons into his coaching career in Salt Lake City, the pressure is now on for Smith to take the Runnin’ Utes back to March Madness for the first time since 2016. He’s come close in each of the last two seasons.
Injuries to key players during the 2023-24 season derailed a late-season bid for the Utes to find a way into the tournament. During the 2022-23 season, Smith and Utah ended the season on a six-game losing streak.
And, while many might suggest he’s on the hot seat or getting close to it, Smith isn’t focused on that.
He wants to approach every day the same way, with the same standards and intensity he had when he was first hired.
“I look at every year the same way,” Smith said. “Pressure is a privilege. I don’t view it any different.”
Utah head coach Craig Smith shouts to his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Washington State, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
He continued: “This is just my mentality. Every practice that I go into, I try to coach the team like it’s like the last practice that I’ll ever have. Every game that we play, I coach that game with everything I’ve got, and it’s never perfect. … I don’t look at it any differently.”
This season Smith wants to stay healthy, given it’s been an issue for consecutive seasons.
He also wants to leverage his team’s size, height and versatility on defense. There are only four players on the team that aren’t taller than 6-foot-3. Smith wants to make that a positive, especially in conference play when Utah faces top-ranked Big 12 teams loaded with size and talent.
“When you have size and length, it really can impact right what you do,” Smith said. “We have a lot of versatility to move guys up and down the lineup.”
While the season is still a month away, Utah’s head coach is ready to embark on a new chapter of the book he could’ve started this offseason.
Who knows how it will end or where it will take him.
He’s just excited to take on the challenge.
“You pour everything you’ve got into your players,” Smith said. “You pour everything you got into your into your staff. You pour everything you got into your athletic department. You pour everything you got into your fan base.
“It’s important and it matters. That’s how I’ve approached everything during my entire career.”
