Larry Krystkowiak signs a five-year deal worth $950,000 a year
by JazzyUte on Apr 3, 2011 12:50 PM MDT
in Basketball
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PrintThe University of Utah announced today the hiring of Larry Krystkowiak as the school's 15th head basketball coach. Krystkowiak, who has spent most of the 2010-11 season as an assistant with the New Jersey Nets, returns to the college ranks for the first time since he led the Montana Grizzlies five years ago.
He has signed a five-year deal worth $950,000 a year. A press conference will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the Huntsman Center.
Krystkowiak spent two seasons at Montana as head coach of the Grizzlies, leading them to a 42-20 record and two NCAA appearances. In his second, and subsequently last season with Montana, the Grizzlies upset the Nevada WolfPack in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before eventually bowing out to Boston College in the second round.
After a successful two-year stint with Montana, Krystkowiak left to become an assistant on the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. In March 2007, he was promoted to head coach - a position he would retain for the remainder of the season and then the entirety of the 2007-'08 NBA season. He was fired on April 17th, 2008.
Prior to coaching at Montana, Krystkowiak was the head coach of the Idaho Stampede for one year and an assistant coach under Blaine Taylor in 2000 at Old Dominion and before that, Don Holst for two seasons at Montana.
Krystkowiak has five years of collegiate coaching experience and is considered a very good coach and motivator, but also has limited recruiting history. Which means this hire will sink or swim on the assistants he brings with him.
I'd like to welcome Krystkowiak to the Ute family. I might not be entirely excited about this hire, but he is a Utah coach now and hopefully he's the man to turn around Utah basketball.
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A less than enthusiastic Welcome Coach K
Now show us you’re REALLY the right man for the job.
"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word" - Andrew Jackson
I think it is time to get behind him 100% now.
Good luck Larry.
"From the end spring new beginnings." - Pliny the Elder
by daedalus17 on Apr 3, 2011 2:26 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
This is our guy now.
Agree lets get behind him and the Team.
Welcome Coach
by uteman5 on Apr 3, 2011 2:49 PM MDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Very true
I hope he does well and proves all of us who questioned the hire.
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I support the hire
As I’ve said before, I like this hire. I think Krysko has a lot of upside. I recognize the risks but it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I loved the way his teams played at Montana and let’s hope he can bring a sustained success back to Utah basketball.
Comments from those that know him... via sltrib.com
In case you were wondering what kind of coach Larry Krystkowiak is and what kind of guy he is, I’ve got a couple thoughts from people who have known him for several years.
Most describe him as an energetic, hard-working guy who isn’t afraid to battle. Sounds like just the kind of guy the Utes need to revamp the basketball program, doesn’t it?
“No doubt he is going to be successful,” said Montana athletic director Jim O’Day. “He took us to the tournament for two years by out working people. He is driven and I think it’s a great hire.”
Nets coach Avery Johnson said the hiring was well-deserved and that Krystkowiak did a lot of good things behind the scenes for the Nets.
“We think this is a great opportunity for him,” he said. “He talked about getting back to college and we think it’s really good timing for him.”
Montana coach Wayne Tinkle, Krystkowiak’s previous assistant, believes any thoughts that Krystkowiak won’t be able to recruit well will be put to rest, saying he is a smart guy who will jump back in the college game without a hitch.
“I’m excited he is getting back into the college game,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if he’d spend the rest of his career in the NBA and I’m glad he wants to get back into coaching.”
Tinkle admitted he wouldn’t be surprised if one of Krystkowiak’s first recruits might be his assistant and Krystkowiak’s former assistant, Andy Hill.
“I know they are close,” Tinkle said. “If that happens I’d hope for the best for Andy because it would be a great opportunity for him.”
Former Jazz assistant coach Phil Johnson was excited to hear of Krystkowiak’s hiring. Krystkowiak spent one year with the Jazz.
“He’s done it all,” Johnson said. “He’s coached in college, in the summer league, at Montana and in the NBA as a head coach and an assistant. He can draw from a lot of different experiences.”
Dang
I really have no idea about how to feel about this guy, I would rather have the old bama coach be the guy. But I’ll support every coach that will be at Utah for now and the future.
Go utes!
by utahman13 on Apr 3, 2011 7:27 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
Holdovers?
Do you think he will keep any of the previous assistants or will he clean house? Remember how the players were pretty vocal about keeping Boylen and how they were there because of the coaches?
Clean house or keep some continuity?
That will be his first recruiting effort...
He’s got to keep some of the talent or we’re starting with nothing.
they usually clean house and bring their own assistants.
The University of Utah is off to the Pac-12 Conference and will be in the South Division. Hopefully we will get to the first ever Pac-12 Championship Game. Jon " Bones " Jones new light heavyweight champion. Even if Jones got struck flush in the face he would recover and defeat whoever is in front of him. I told everyone the fight would be easy. Almost felt sorry for Rua. Anderson Silva would never fight "Bones". He is too scared to fight the real P4P champion. The Cult of Personality is here.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Apr 4, 2011 11:36 AM MDT up reply actions
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