Is Utah's Craig Smith On The Hot Seat After Latest Letdown Season?

Despite it being his best season as the Utah head coach, the Utes are looking likely to miss the March Madness tournament once again and fans are wondering if Craig Smith should be on the hot seat.

Craig Smith's tenure as the head coach of Utah basketball hasn't panned out the way fans thought it would when the program hired him in 2021.

Since 2018, the program has been in a gradual decline and while the results have improved each season Smith has been at the helm, there is nothing to show for it at the end of the season.

Runnin' Utes basketball has a storied past, and at one point, was even THE sport at the university. Now, especially during the Smith era, interest in basketball has declined steeply to the point where college sports accounts list Utah as one of the best big schools that don't care about hoops. 

But giving credit where credit is due, the 23-24 season was the best of Smith's time, and with the injuries the squad suffered throughout the season, it makes the 19-14 record all the more impressive. 

Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith watches his team in the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

However, with rumors running wild and patience running thin, the loss to Colorado after such a blowout win the night before has only fueled the fire for Smith's sacking. 

The program's last March Madness appearance was 7 seasons ago with 8 looking likely and for a program of such stature, this drought is unacceptable. If the program wants to return to the glory days and have the Hunstman sold out for every game, it may be high time for Craig Smith to walk through the exit door.