Craig Smith Hires Three To Utah Basketball Support Staff

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – University of Utah head men’s basketball coach Craig Smith has hired three individuals on Monday to his support staff.

Craig Smith has hired Brandon Ubel, Justin Johnson and Logan Ogden to the Utah basketball support staff. All three guys have worked with Smith at some point during his three seasons as the head coach of Utah State.

Ubel will be Utah’s director of scouting, Justin Johnson will be the special assistant to the head coach and Logan Ogden will be the strength and conditioning coach.

Welcome to the Runnin’ Utes Family! @coachcsmith_ makes three additions to his staff!

➡️ Justin Johnson
➡️ Brandon Ubel
➡️ Logan Ogden

📰 https://t.co/1mXq4E0akS
#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/CCwltacb0q

— Utah Basketball🏀 (@UtahMBB) April 19, 2021

Brandon Ubel

Ubel comes to Salt Lake City after serving as a graduate manager for the last two seasons at Utah State. The relationship with Smith goes back to when they were at Nebraska when Smith was an assistant coach. Ubel played college basketball at Nebraska from 2010-13, averaging 7.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

After his college career ended, Ubel played overseas in Belgium, playing for Brussels from 2013-14, the Antwerp Giants from 2014-15 and back with Brussels from 2015-17.

“We are thrilled to announce that Brandon will be joining the Runnin’ Utes basketball family,” Smith said. “He brings a little bit of everything to our staff. Brandon is all about relationships and working hard. He has a mindset of helping others understand whatever the situation may be. When I coached Brandon, I always told him I am going to hire him someday. So pumped that day has arrived.”

Justin Johnson

Johnson served in a similar capacity at Utah State for the past three seasons. The relationship with Smith back in the late 90s when Johnson played at Minot State. After his playing career, Johnson served as a student assistant for the 2000-01 season. Then he moved to North Dakota State as a student assistant with Smith, who was an assistant coach under Tim Miles from 2001-03.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Justin join our Runnin’ Utes basketball family,” Smith said. “Justin and I have been on the same staff for eight years at various stops. There is a reason for that. He’s a relationship person at the highest level and truly understand the process for winning.”

Logan Ogden

Ogden was the strength and conditioning coach at Utah State throughout Smith’s tenure in Logan. Before his stint at Utah State, Ogden spent three years at Omaha as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.

“We’re beyond happy to have Logan join our staff. Coach O is elite in his area of expertise. These young men in our program will maximize their athletic potential with his coaching. Logan was also a huge reason we went to three-straight NCAA Tournaments at Utah State.”

Smith still needs to hire a third assistant coach to his staff.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.

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