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60 second video on Coach Smith’s first day.

Welcome Cyclones Fans! Forums Utah Utes Sports Basketball (Men) 60 second video on Coach Smith’s first day.

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    • #141269
      9
      cjd1
      Participant

    • #141278
      4 1
      Trailgoat
      Participant

      Coaching staff decisions will be interesting moving forward especially with Martinez who sounds like a solid coach. As for Timmy Allen, I suspect that’s a one time sit down meeting between Smith and Allen. Allen is a great player and sounds like he’s an even better kid/team mate. Hopefully Smith clears it up quick to get Allen on board or help him move on to the transfer portal and use his spot to recruit another player. Cautiously optimistic considering the failure with the past three coaches. All the pieces are in place to turn this thing around. Go Utes!

      • #141279
        8 3
        AZUteFan
        Participant

        I hope Smith hires his guys as assistants and doesn’t feel he has to keep some coach because his kid is in the team. I have no insight on Martinez as a coach, but it’s obvious LK hired him as a package deal with his son. Sounds like a desperate strategy and one I hope Smith avoids. If either Martinez and Jones transfer because their dad is not retained, I say let them walk and let’s start the rebuilding process now instead of keeping kids that aren’t all in.

        • #141280
          4 1
          Trailgoat
          Participant

          Jones as Director of BB Operations seems to be a little different situation considering he was already on staff. If Smith does not retain Jones and Martinez and their kids split then the kids were there for all the wrong reasons anyway.

          That said, LK was not shy about endorsing the bring your son to work program at the U. Only my worthless opinion, work and famliy outside of maybe your home owned business should always be kept separate. As it turned out, this was the least of LKs problems as coach. 

          Thankful the BB program continues to provide plenty of drama-distraction to get us through the football off season duldrums. 

        • #141282
          2
          chinngiskhaan
          Participant

          Jones is a proven basketball coach that has been around the Utah program for as long as I can remember. He should be retained. I honestly think we have great assistant coaches. The issue was a lack of something from Larry. He has relied on excuses to keep himself going for a couple of years now.

    • #141281
      6
      Charlie
      Participant

      Let Smith review the issue himself. I have no reason to believe that all of Smith’s previous assistants are better than coach Martinez and Jones. Very reasonable that Pac assistants are a higher level than MWC assistants. It is also likely that the previous lead assistant is a candidate for the USU job. There is no reason to believe that these two coaches would not give everything they have to Smith to keep their career healthy. Smith’s previous assistants are just 3 years removed from the Summit League so it is not likely that at South Dakota a future major college staff was assembled. You want some continuity to continue and those two coaches can help with that. Connor is the coach that is more a question in my mind. I don’t know if he assumes the same role for Smith. Best guess is the new staff may be a blend of some Utah coaches, some previous assistants for Smith, and possibly some new faces. USU will want to address continuity as well so this may be easier that first appears.

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