Craig Smith might’ve been fired as Utah’s head coach on Monday, but his two sons, Landon and Brady Smith, are still members of Utah’s basketball program.
Landon is currently Utah’s director of administration and basketball operations.
Brady is a sophomore walk-on that has played in eight games this season after transferring from Salt Lake Community College.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd took time to recognize both following the Runnin’ Utes' 83-66 loss to the Wildcats on Wednesday night in Tucson.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd shouts at the official, in the Second Round of the men's basketball NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center, on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
“I want to acknowledge two guys today, Brady and Landon Smith,” Lloyd said after the game. “They are Craig’s kids. One’s the director of operations, the other’s a walk-on. And both those kids showed up today, which is pretty amazing. I know this is a business, and it’s a hard business, and I get all those things, but we all have families. We all have kids, and for his kids to show up today ... Craig, I talked to him today, and had not one bad word to say, straight class. For his boys to show up today, with their teammates, says something. This stuff’s hard, what we go through, even when it’s going good, it’s hard.”
Lloyd went on to compliment the fired Utah coach.
“We got to know each other coaching against each other in the Pac-12, and we kind of came into the league together,” Arizona’s coach said. “Do Craig and I talk on the phone a lot? No. Do we completely understand what everybody goes through all the time? Yes. So you develop a brotherhood.
“There’s not too many people that know what your life’s really like, and the stress you feel and the pressure that’s on you, and trying to figure out your team and everything comes with it. It was just one guy calling another guy because he respects him, and I just wanted him to know that, hey, he’s a great dude, and sorry that that happened, and I hope he and his family are OK.”
Smith’s tenure with the Runnin’ Utes ended without an NCAA Tournament appearance and 15-12 record in 2024-25.
