This Is An Inflection Point For Mark Harlan, Utah Basketball
Feb 25, 2025, 1:57 PM | Updated: Feb 26, 2025, 5:43 pm
Utah athletic director Mark Harlan (Courtesy of James Wooldridge, Deseret News)
(Courtesy of James Wooldridge, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY—The University of Utah’s decision to dismiss men’s basketball head coach Craig Smith was a surprising one.
Not so much in the decision itself as the timing of it, which was met with criticism, and for the most part, rightfully so.
Still, the growing belief was that Utah would ultimately make a change, so despite the timing, many believed this was imminent.
As the initial shock wears off, all eyes are on Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan. This is a pivotal moment for the basketball program, underscored by the critical role Harlan plays in shaping its future.
MORE: Utah Basketball Head Coach Big Board: Potential Targets 1.0
It’s late but @RunninHoops joined me to unpack the decision today and what seems to be next for Utah Basketball.
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) February 25, 2025
An inflection point for Mark Harlan, Utah Basketball
Craig Smith’s tenure with the Utes concluded four games short of four full seasons. He led the program to a 65-62 record but failed to secure an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Despite notable victories along the way, including his most recent wins over Kansas and Kansas State, the program’s overall performance was inconsistent.
Harlan articulated the sentiment that a record hovering around .500 was insufficient for the program’s aspirations. However, Utah was jockeying in the middle of the Big 12 standings, exceeding pre-season expectations of the program. According to some opinions, Smith’s success also surpassed the support and resources he was provided.
This has little to do with Craig Smith’s coaching. This is one of those few times that nobody in his right mind would take this job without saying, “Show me the (NIL) money.” Coaching the team has much less to do with success today than ever before. @UtahMBB
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) February 24, 2025
To be clear, Smith was let go for reasons on the floor and beyond it. As much as this was about the game-to-game inconsistency, it was more about deteriorating relationships with important figures around the program. And in today’s game, it’s vital that coaches maintain healthy relationships with alumni and supporters alike.
Regardless, this is now a critical juncture for Utah Basketball. The decision to make a change now has attracted a lot of negativity Utah’s way. Harlan and those involved in this process must reflect on what’s led to this point. Utah needs to make the right hire to gain significant positive momentum, but so much more than that.
The need for greater commitment to the Runnin’ Utes program
Elevating the men’s basketball program will require more than just a strategic hire; it demands a sustained commitment to care and support.
Harlan emphasized the desire to return the program to national prominence in the press release. He highlighted the resources the program has been provided, including staff additions, increased compensation, and bolstering Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes. Yet, the NIL support provided this season was not at a level many would deem competitive in the Big 12.
With the change, the program’s resources are likely to increase. These investments are crucial in providing Utah with the means to thrive as a basketball program. However, there needs to be more than just an influx of money invested in the program.
The head coaching search is already underway, so here's a list of candidates that might be worth paying attention to for Utah Basketball. https://t.co/p9QwdmGwbd
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) February 24, 2025
Utah has to rekindle the passion of its fanbase. Fan interest plays a huge role in competing at a high level in the Big 12. Go to opposing arenas, and you’ll likely find a packed house. As Smith would often say, fans impact winning, and that is absolutely true in this league.
However, ask Utah basketball fans, who have become quite vocal in their frustrations, the general feeling is that the Utah basketball program has been abandoned. Since Smith was hired four years ago, Harlan has seemed fairly hands-off with the program.
The Jon M. Huntsman Center is a storied venue, but it likely plays a role in another sore spot for Utah basketball, game attendance. The arena is getting old and little has been done to enhance the amenities or atmosphere. The need for renovation, perhaps an entirely new stadium, grows as the seasons go by.
Despite that, Smith was incentivized to generate interest and improve game attendance. However, as time passed, it seemed he was left alone in accomplishing that task.
Now, that is certainly not the reality, as Harlan has been working diligently to turn the program’s fortunes around. Again, the belief is that the coaching change will lead to greatly improved resources, which does not happen without effort on his part.
To get Utah Basketball where many believe it can compete, it’s going to require a collective effort, and it starts from the top down. Greater care must be given to its overall well-being to create the sort of program that warrants national relevancy.
A huge moment for Utah Hoops
This is a huge moment for Utah, as the men’s basketball program is storied in Utah’s athletic history, and its resurgence is paramount. This new coaching search presents an opportunity to attract a leader who can harness the program’s potential and navigate the challenges of the Big 12 Conference.
Utah has made 29 NCAA Tournament appearances, 16 Sweet Sixteen appearances, four trips to the Final Four, an NCAA Tournament runner-up, and a national championship. This program has an incredibly rich history and a fanbase dying to see it return to its past form.
The potential for this program is tremendous. Make the right hire and there’s a real possibility it catapults the program forward with momentum. Many people, especially Harlan, are working diligently to seize the opportunity and realize that potential.
