Utah Utes men's basketball
Encyclopedia
The University of Utah Utes have consistently been one of the most successful basketball programs in the NCAA. They are currently an NCAA Division I program that plays in the Pacific-12 Conference. The school has made the NCAA Tournament
26 times, which ranks 16th in NCAA history and 3rd behind UCLA
and the University of Arizona
in the Western United States
. They last made the tournament in 2009. Utah won the NCAA Championship in 1944
, defeating Dartmouth College 42–40 for the school's only basketball championship. They have also won the NIT
once, defeating Kentucky
in 1947
.
That began with the hiring of Vadal Peterson
, who would become the winningest coach in Utah basketball history. Peterson would guide Utah to 6 conference and state championships and reached the ultimate prize in 1944, when the Utes won the national championship. Oddly enough, Utah had turned down a bid to the NCAA Tournament because they wanted to play in the NIT. Back then, the NIT was a far more prestigious tournament and typically drew the big time college basketball programs. However, after being bounced in the first round by Kentucky, Utah was given a second chance to play in the NCAA Tournament after an accident injured the University of Arkansas team. The Utes accepted and went on to defeat Dartmouth 42–40. The legendary Arnie Ferrin
was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player
after scoring 28 points in the final two games. Three years later, Peterson would lead Utah to the more prestigious NIT championship, as they defeated, ironically enough, Kentucky 49–45. Peterson would retire from Utah with a 385–230 (.626) record and is the only coach in Utah history to have won a national championship.
After Peterson retired, Utah basketball was known as one of the strongest in the west. That tradition helped convince Kansas State
head coach Jack Gardner to accept the job. Gardner had led the Wildcats to two Final Fours prior to accepting the job and during his 18 years at Utah, he built a legacy that many today feel is the strongest in Utah history.
In Gardner's third season he once again guided the Utes to a conference championship and an NCAA tournament berth. That year the Utes climbed to 11th in the polls and made it to the Elite Eight, before bowing out to eventual champion San Francisco
, who was led by future NBA
legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell. The Utes kept their postseason streak alive for Gardner's fourth and fifth seasons, making the NIT, however, they lost in the first round both years. In 1959, Utah again returned to the NCAA Tournament
, before losing to Idaho State in the second round. The Utes would make the NCAA Tournament again in 1960
, and like in '59, were defeated in the second round, this time by USC.
. That year the Utes finished 23–8 and 12–2 in conference play. They were ranked 11th in the nation and faced Loyola-California
in the first round. The Utes easily won 91–75 and advanced to the Elite Eight, where they defeated Arizona State 88–80, to make the school's first Final Four in 17 years. There they would face the eventual national champions Cincinnati Bearcats
, losing 82–67. Though the season had ended short of the national championship, Utah had returned to the national stage and would prove to be a worthy national foe for years to come.
ushered in great change for Utah athletics. The Utes, along with the Arizona
, Arizona State, BYU
, New Mexico, and Wyoming decided to form the Western Athletic Conference
. The highly competitive conference made it far more difficult for the Utes to win, as Gardner struggled in the first three years of the conference's formation. During that span the Utes would go 12–14, 19–9 and 17–9. However, by 1966 Utah was once again ready to make a national splash, after cruising to a conference championship and the program's first tournament berth since the 1961 season during that season
.
Utah received a first round bye and faced Pacific
in the semifinals. After a relatively easy 83–74 victory over the Tigers, Utah advanced to the Elite Eight where they would face the Oregon State
. In a highly competitive game, the Utes came out on top, defeating the Beavers 70–64 to advance once again to the Final Four. This was a historical advancement for Jack Gardner, because it made him the first, and only, coach to guide two different teams to two Final Fours. But it was the cultural significance of this Final Four that would have far reaching historical impact and change the game of college basketball forever.
After getting by the Beavers, Utah faced Texas Western
in the Final Four, the winner would go on to play Kentucky
for the national championship. Though the game was tight, Utah wore down at the end and the Miners edged the Utes 85–78 to advance to the national championship game. There Texas Western, under the leadership of the legendary Don Haskins
, started five black players for the first time in NCAA Championship history. Texas Western would go on to defeat Kentucky, led by Adolph Rupp
, to claim the 1966 national title, and would be inducted as a team in 2010. Though Utah lost to the Miners in the Final Four, Jerry Chambers
was named the Most Outstanding Player, joining Arnie Ferrin as the only Ute to win the award.
After the Utes trip to the Final Four, the program would gradually regress in Gardner's final years. Though they posted winning seasons every year, they failed to make the NCAA Tournament and only appeared in two NIT tournaments. After the 1971 season, Gardner decided to retire, ending his career at Utah with a 339–154 record. He's the only coach to lead the Utes to two Final Fours and his legacy lives on, as Gardner was integral in getting the athletic department to build the Huntsman Center
, the current home to the men's basketball team.
The Utes looked to New Jersey, Rutgers
to be exact, and found a successful unknown coach who had guided the Rutgers basketball team to some of their most successful seasons ever. Bill Foster
, in the early part of 1971, was named the head coach of the Runnin' Utes. And though his stay with Utah wasn't long, he was essential to Utah's rebuilding plans. Though Foster got off to a slow start at Utah, going 13–12 and 8–19, his third and final season would prove to be a glimpse into Utah's successful future. He guided the team to a 22–8 season and an NIT berth. In the first round, Utah would face Foster's former team, Rutgers, however, they proved to be no match for the Utes as they easily dispatched of them 102–89. In the second round Utah blew out Memphis State 92–78 and then dominated Boston College
117–93 to advance to the title game. There they faced Purdue
and though Utah kept it close, the Boilermakers prevailed, winning 87–81. Even with the loss, Utah basketball was showing signs of returning to its past glory, but it would have to do it under another coach, as Bill Foster quickly left Utah to rebuild Duke
.
. The hire would prove to a good one, as he would continue what Foster had started. In Pimm's third season he guided the Utes to a conference championship and the NCAA Sweet 16
, where they narrowly lost to UNLV. In his fourth year at Utah, he once again guided the Utes to the Sweet 16
, however, again coming up short, losing a tough one to Notre Dame
. Pimm would take Utah to its third NCAA Tournament in a row, but unlike the past two years, the Utes were upset in the first round
by Pepperdine
. After a year of not making the NCAA Tournament, the Utes returned
, crushing Northeastern
94-69, before barely losing to North Carolina
61-56. The Tar Heels would go on to the national championship game before losing to Indiana
.
Though Pimm had been a successful coach at Utah, his relationship was strained with the athletic department and his final season with the Utes occurred in the 1983 campaign. Like he had in years before, Pimm would lead the Utes to the NCAA Tournament
and yet another Sweet 16 appearance, after Utah knocked off 7th seeded Illinois
and then stunned 2nd seed UCLA in the second round. Yet, like in years past, the Utes failed to advance beyond the Sweet 16 and Utah's loss to eventual national champions North Carolina State would be Pimm's last game as Utah's head coach. He left the Utes for UC Santa Barbara. Pimm's record at Utah was 173-86 (.668). He won three conference championships and had four 20+ win seasons.
. Though his resume was lacking, Archibald easily endeared himself to Utah fans through his kindness and rather clean image. Unfortunately, that never translated to success on the basketball court, as Archibald's teams often underperformed. Though he had mild success with the Utes, like guiding them to the WAC Championship in 1986 and the NCAA Tournament
, he could never build on what Foster and Pimm had started. In 6 seasons at Utah, he went 98–86 and though he made three postseason appearances in a row from 1986 to '88, the program never advanced beyond the first round. The final nail in Archibald's coffin came in the 1989 season, where the Utes went 6–10 in conference play. Archibald was fired from Utah, however, the program would reach new heights in the 1990s under the new leadership of Rick Majerus
.
history, leading the Cardinals to a 29-3 record and a second round appearance in the NCAA tournament
. Rick Majerus
was named the 12th head coach of the University of Utah in April 1989. During his run with Utah, he would guide them through the most successful period in the program's history, but it was a run that got off to a slow start.
Shortly after his first season with Utah began, Majerus had to step down because of medical reasons. He faced heart surgery and would not be able to lead the Utes for the rest of the year. The team was taken over by his assistant Joe Cravens and they limped to a 7-9 conference record. However, when Majerus returned for the next season, he was healthy and so was Utah's basketball program.
In his first full year as head coach, Majerus guided the Utes to a conference championship and an NCAA Sweet 16
appearance. Though Utah was crushed by eventual national champ UNLV, the success Majerus had in his first full season with the Utes proved Utah basketball was once again returning to its rightful place as one of the strongest programs in the west.
During this time, a little quirk in the NCAA seeding had Utah facing Kentucky nearly every time they made the tournament. In 1993
, the Utes were crushed by the Wildcats 83-62 in the second round. In 1996
, the two met in the Sweet 16 with Kentucky
defeating Utah 101-70. In 1997
, the two would meet in the Elite Eight, with Kentucky winning 72-59, though that game was far more competitive than the final score indicated. The biggest meeting between the two would take place a year later, on the biggest stage and in the biggest game in Utah basketball history.
graduated. Yet led by Andre Miller
and Michael Doleac
, the Utes would begin an improbable run that would guide the program to its first national championship game in 54 years.
The Utes had dominated their way to a WAC championship and a top-5 ranking to end the 1998 regular season. They were given a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament
and faced San Francisco
in the first round. Unlike the last time these two teams met in the NCAA Tournament, Utah cruised to an 85-68 victory. In the second round they faced Arkansas
and pulled out a 75-69 victory to advance to the school's third straight Sweet 16, where they defeated West Virginia
65-62, giving the Utes a second straight trip to the Elite Eight.
Reaching the Elite Eight for the second time in a row was a feat in and of itself. However, most felt Utah's run would end in 1998
, as they were facing #1 seed Arizona
, the defending national champions. Yet, using the triangle-and-two defense
, Utah defeated Arizona 76-51. The game, one of the worst losses in Wildcat history, pushed Utah to their first Final Four in 32 years, where they beat the #1 overall seed, North Carolina, 65-59.
Heading into the national championship, Utah was looking to become the first Mid-major
Conference team to win the championship since UNLV won it in 1990
. Like in the Elite Eight and Final Four, Utah jumped out to a large lead, going into the half up 10. However, they couldn't hold on and Kentucky
fought back and using their depth and talent, they took over the game in the final minutes and cruised to a 78-69 victory. Once again the Utes' season was ended at the hands of Kentucky. This time though, it was a loss that cost Utah a national championship.
Utah's 1998 NCAA Tournament run capped one of the greatest seasons in Utah basketball history, and cemented the Utes standing on the national stage in the 1990s — where they were one of the nation's winningest programs.
Rick Majerus career would come to an end only a few years after that run. After guiding Utah to 3 more conference championships and 4 NCAA Tournament berths (1999
, 2000
, 2002
, and 2003
) which included another loss to Kentucky (the 2003 NCAA second round). Majerus retired from Utah, citing health concerns. He left the Utes with a 323-95 record, including 4 Sweet 16s, 2 Elite Eights and 1 Final Four.
led the Utes to the NCAA Tournament
to finish out the remainder of Rick Majerus' season in 2004, Utah had to look for a coach for the first time in 15 years. After being turned down by Nevada
head coach Trent Johnson
, the Utes settled on Eastern Washington
head coach Ray Giacoletti
. An unknown from the Northwest, many fans were left wondering whether the hire would prove to be successful or not. And at first, it appeared it would be, as in his first season with the Utes, Giacoletti led them to a 29-6 record, a dominant 13-1 conference finish and a Sweet 16
appearance, the school's first since the amazing run in 1998. And, like in 1998, Utah would lose to their tournament nemesis, Kentucky. Utah finished the season ranked 14th in the nation; Andrew Bogut
won the Naismith
and Wooden Award
s and was taken number 1 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft
. Yet that success ultimately did Giacoletti in, as the Utes lost too much from that season and failed to finish above .500 in consecutive years for the first time since the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons.
On March 3, 2007, Giacoletti resigned as Utah's head coach. The resignation came a day before Utah was to play rival BYU, a game they were blown out in. Giacoletti finished his career at Utah with an 80-54 loss to UNLV in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament. Giacoletti was 54-40 at Utah, with one conference championship and a 2-1 NCAA Tournament record.
would succeed Ray Giacoletti. Boylen, an assistant under Tom Izzo
, came to Utah after spending over 20 years as an assistant at the collegiate and pro level. His 13 years in the NBA as an assistant with the Houston Rockets
, Golden State Warriors
and Milwaukee Bucks
appeared to have been an asset for a Utah program known for getting successful players into the NBA.
Jim Boylen went 18-15 in his first year at Utah, guiding the Utes to their first postseason tournament in 3 years, as they made the inaugural College Basketball Invitational
, where they advanced to the second round before losing to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane
.
They also won the 2009 Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament in a close 52-50 victory over San Diego State Aztecs. Utah entered the NCAA Tournament
as a number 5 seed. The Utes would then be upset by the 12 seed Arizona Wildcats 84–71 in the first round.
On March 12, 2011, the University of Utah fired Jim Boylen after consecutive losing seasons.
would take over the head coaching position as the Utes transition in the inaugural season of the newly formed Pac-12. Krystkowiak, who is a former NBA player and coach, in his previous NCAA head coaching position, he spent two seasons with his alma mater of Montana
(2004–06), leading the Grizzlies to Big Sky Conference
tournament wins and NCAA tournament appearances in both seasons. In 2006 the Grizzlies beat a heavily favored Nevada
team for Krystkowiak's only NCAA tournament victory as a head coach.
Overall, Krystkowiak had compiled a record of 42–20 as an NCAA Division I head coach before moving on to coach with the Milwaukee Bucks
and New Jersey Nets
.
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
26 times, which ranks 16th in NCAA history and 3rd behind UCLA
UCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
and the University of Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
in the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
. They last made the tournament in 2009. Utah won the NCAA Championship in 1944
1944 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page....
, defeating Dartmouth College 42–40 for the school's only basketball championship. They have also won the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
once, defeating Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
in 1947
1947 National Invitation Tournament
The 1947 National Invitation Tournament was the 1947 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 8 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
.
History
Utah is currently the 12th winningest program in NCAA history. They began play in 1908, finishing with a record of 3–8, however, by 1916, they won their first national championship, winning the National AAU Tournament. The team would compete in the tournament two other times, in 1918 and 1919. But it wasn't until 1927 that Utah really began laying the foundation for what would become one of the winningest programs in college basketball.That began with the hiring of Vadal Peterson
Vadal Peterson
Vadal Peterson was an American basketball coach with the distinction of coaching the most wins in University of Utah history. He guided Utah through 26 seasons from 1927 to 1953. He also led Utah to its only NCAA College Basketball Championship when the Utes defeated Dartmouth College 42-40 in 1944...
, who would become the winningest coach in Utah basketball history. Peterson would guide Utah to 6 conference and state championships and reached the ultimate prize in 1944, when the Utes won the national championship. Oddly enough, Utah had turned down a bid to the NCAA Tournament because they wanted to play in the NIT. Back then, the NIT was a far more prestigious tournament and typically drew the big time college basketball programs. However, after being bounced in the first round by Kentucky, Utah was given a second chance to play in the NCAA Tournament after an accident injured the University of Arkansas team. The Utes accepted and went on to defeat Dartmouth 42–40. The legendary Arnie Ferrin
Arnie Ferrin
C. Arnold Ferrin Jr. is a retired American basketball player in college and the BAA and NBA.Ferrin attended high school in Ogden, Utah. In college with the University of Utah, he won the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player award in 1944 when they won the championship over Dartmouth...
was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player
NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player
At the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships , the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but almost always is a member of the Championship team, especially since the third place game was eliminated after 1981...
after scoring 28 points in the final two games. Three years later, Peterson would lead Utah to the more prestigious NIT championship, as they defeated, ironically enough, Kentucky 49–45. Peterson would retire from Utah with a 385–230 (.626) record and is the only coach in Utah history to have won a national championship.
After Peterson retired, Utah basketball was known as one of the strongest in the west. That tradition helped convince Kansas State
Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball
The Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team represents Kansas State University in college basketball competition. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and is a member of the Big 12 Conference. The current head coach is Frank Martin....
head coach Jack Gardner to accept the job. Gardner had led the Wildcats to two Final Fours prior to accepting the job and during his 18 years at Utah, he built a legacy that many today feel is the strongest in Utah history.
The Gardner era
Jack Gardner was known for his quick offenses, which is where Utah got its name as the Runnin' Redskins (later changed to the Utes). Because of his radical offensive sets, the Utes were widely regarded as the team that helped usher in a new era of college basketball. By his second season, Gardner had the Utes in their first NCAA Tournament since the 1945 season and the Utes dominated their way to a conference championship. Finishing the year 24–4, Utah reached #7 in the rankings, but was eliminated in the second round.In Gardner's third season he once again guided the Utes to a conference championship and an NCAA tournament berth. That year the Utes climbed to 11th in the polls and made it to the Elite Eight, before bowing out to eventual champion San Francisco
San Francisco Dons men's basketball
The San Francisco Dons basketball team represents the University of San Francisco in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's college basketball. The Dons compete in the West Coast Conference, in which they have won sixteen regular season and one conference tournament...
, who was led by future NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell. The Utes kept their postseason streak alive for Gardner's fourth and fifth seasons, making the NIT, however, they lost in the first round both years. In 1959, Utah again returned to the NCAA Tournament
1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 7, 1959, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in Louisville,...
, before losing to Idaho State in the second round. The Utes would make the NCAA Tournament again in 1960
1960 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1960 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 7, 1960, and ended with the championship game on March 19 in Daly City,...
, and like in '59, were defeated in the second round, this time by USC.
1961 Final Four
After getting eliminated in the second round in consecutive years, Jack Gardner and Utah finally made a run at the national championship in 19611961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 24 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 14, 1961, and ended with the championship game on March 25 in Kansas...
. That year the Utes finished 23–8 and 12–2 in conference play. They were ranked 11th in the nation and faced Loyola-California
Loyola Marymount Lions
The Loyola Marymount Lions are the athletic teams that represent Loyola Marymount University, a Jesuit institution in Los Angeles, California. The school competes in NCAA Division I, with its primary affiliation in the West Coast Conference, an organization consisting solely of...
in the first round. The Utes easily won 91–75 and advanced to the Elite Eight, where they defeated Arizona State 88–80, to make the school's first Final Four in 17 years. There they would face the eventual national champions Cincinnati Bearcats
1960–61 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team
The 1960–61 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team represented University of Cincinnati. The Head Coach was Ed Jucker.-Regular season:*In the Crosstown Shootout, Cincinnati beat Xavier by a score of 89–53...
, losing 82–67. Though the season had ended short of the national championship, Utah had returned to the national stage and would prove to be a worthy national foe for years to come.
Western movement and a return to the Final Four
A season after the 1961 Final Four1961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 24 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 14, 1961, and ended with the championship game on March 25 in Kansas...
ushered in great change for Utah athletics. The Utes, along with the Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
, Arizona State, BYU
BYU Cougars men's basketball
The BYU Cougars men's basketball team represents Brigham Young University in NCAA Division I basketball play. Established in 1902, the team has won 30 conference championships and 2 NIT Tournaments , and competed in 26 NCAA Tournaments. It currently competes in the West Coast Conference...
, New Mexico, and Wyoming decided to form the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
. The highly competitive conference made it far more difficult for the Utes to win, as Gardner struggled in the first three years of the conference's formation. During that span the Utes would go 12–14, 19–9 and 17–9. However, by 1966 Utah was once again ready to make a national splash, after cruising to a conference championship and the program's first tournament berth since the 1961 season during that season
1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 22 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1966, and ended with the championship game on March 19 in College Park, Maryland...
.
Utah received a first round bye and faced Pacific
Pacific Tigers men's basketball
The University of the Pacific Tigers Mens Basketball team are an NCAA Division I basketball team, part of the Big West conference. The team is based in Stockton, California. They play their home games at Alex G. Spanos Center and are led by head coach Bob Thomason.-NCAA Tournament Results:The...
in the semifinals. After a relatively easy 83–74 victory over the Tigers, Utah advanced to the Elite Eight where they would face the Oregon State
Oregon State Beavers men's basketball
The Oregon State Beavers men's basketball program, established in 1901, is the intercollegiate men's basketball program of the Oregon State University Beavers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference. The team is coached by Craig...
. In a highly competitive game, the Utes came out on top, defeating the Beavers 70–64 to advance once again to the Final Four. This was a historical advancement for Jack Gardner, because it made him the first, and only, coach to guide two different teams to two Final Fours. But it was the cultural significance of this Final Four that would have far reaching historical impact and change the game of college basketball forever.
After getting by the Beavers, Utah faced Texas Western
1965–66 Texas Western Miners men's basketball team
The 1965–66 Texas Western Miners basketball team represented Texas Western University, now known as the University of Texas at El Paso and was coached by Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins. The team made history by winning the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament in 1966, becoming the...
in the Final Four, the winner would go on to play Kentucky
1965–66 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
The 1965–66 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in NCAA competition in the 1965–66 season. Coached by Adolph Rupp, the team had no player taller than 6'5"/1.96 m—unusually small even for that era—and became known as "Rupp's Runts"...
for the national championship. Though the game was tight, Utah wore down at the end and the Miners edged the Utes 85–78 to advance to the national championship game. There Texas Western, under the leadership of the legendary Don Haskins
Don Haskins
Donald Lee Haskins, nicknamed "The Bear" , was an American collegiate basketball coach and player. He played for three years under legendary coach Henry Iba at Oklahoma A&M...
, started five black players for the first time in NCAA Championship history. Texas Western would go on to defeat Kentucky, led by Adolph Rupp
Adolph Rupp
Adolph Frederick Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American college basketball. Rupp is fourth in total victories by a men's NCAA Division I college coach, winning 876 games in 41 years of coaching...
, to claim the 1966 national title, and would be inducted as a team in 2010. Though Utah lost to the Miners in the Final Four, Jerry Chambers
Jerry Chambers
Jerome Purcell "Jerry" Chambers is a retired American professional basketball player. At 6'5" and 185 pounds, he played as a forward....
was named the Most Outstanding Player, joining Arnie Ferrin as the only Ute to win the award.
After the Utes trip to the Final Four, the program would gradually regress in Gardner's final years. Though they posted winning seasons every year, they failed to make the NCAA Tournament and only appeared in two NIT tournaments. After the 1971 season, Gardner decided to retire, ending his career at Utah with a 339–154 record. He's the only coach to lead the Utes to two Final Fours and his legacy lives on, as Gardner was integral in getting the athletic department to build the Huntsman Center
Jon M. Huntsman Center
Jon M. Huntsman Center is a 15,000-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. The arena opened in 1969 and is named after chemicals entrepreneur and philanthropist Jon M. Huntsman, father of Utah's former governor Jon Huntsman, Jr....
, the current home to the men's basketball team.
The revival of Utah basketball
Though the program had proven to be strong under Gardner, the team had struggled during the final years of his coaching career. After his retirement, Utah was faced with the daunting task of not only replacing a legend, but finding a coach who was capable of bringing Utah back to elite status.The Utes looked to New Jersey, Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Men's Basketball team represents Rutgers University and is a NCAA Division I college basketball team, which competes in the Big East Conference...
to be exact, and found a successful unknown coach who had guided the Rutgers basketball team to some of their most successful seasons ever. Bill Foster
Bill Foster (college basketball coach)
Bill Foster was the head men's basketball coach at Rutgers University, University of Utah, Duke University, University of South Carolina, and Northwestern University. He is best known for guiding Duke to the NCAA championship game in 1978, and that year he was named national Coach of the Year by...
, in the early part of 1971, was named the head coach of the Runnin' Utes. And though his stay with Utah wasn't long, he was essential to Utah's rebuilding plans. Though Foster got off to a slow start at Utah, going 13–12 and 8–19, his third and final season would prove to be a glimpse into Utah's successful future. He guided the team to a 22–8 season and an NIT berth. In the first round, Utah would face Foster's former team, Rutgers, however, they proved to be no match for the Utes as they easily dispatched of them 102–89. In the second round Utah blew out Memphis State 92–78 and then dominated Boston College
Boston College Eagles men's basketball
The Boston College Eagles are a Division I college basketball program that represents Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. The team has competed in the ACC since 2005, having previously played in the Big East. Home games have been played at the Conte Forum since 1988, having previously been played...
117–93 to advance to the title game. There they faced Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball
The Purdue Boilermakers basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big Ten Conference. Purdue basketball holds the record for most Big Ten Championships with 22, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning records...
and though Utah kept it close, the Boilermakers prevailed, winning 87–81. Even with the loss, Utah basketball was showing signs of returning to its past glory, but it would have to do it under another coach, as Bill Foster quickly left Utah to rebuild Duke
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
.
Under coach Jerry Pimm
Utah didn't have to go far for their next head coach, as they promoted Foster's assistant Jerry PimmJerry Pimm
Jerry Pimm is a men's basketball coach who is best remembered for coaching at the University of Utah from 1974–1983 and the University of California, Santa Barbara from 1983-1998....
. The hire would prove to a good one, as he would continue what Foster had started. In Pimm's third season he guided the Utes to a conference championship and the NCAA Sweet 16
1977 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1977 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 American schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the National Champion of Men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1977, and ended with the championship game on March 28 in Atlanta, Georgia. A...
, where they narrowly lost to UNLV. In his fourth year at Utah, he once again guided the Utes to the Sweet 16
1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1978, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in St. Louis, Missouri...
, however, again coming up short, losing a tough one to Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. The program competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I. The school holds two national championships in...
. Pimm would take Utah to its third NCAA Tournament in a row, but unlike the past two years, the Utes were upset in the first round
1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah...
by Pepperdine
Pepperdine Waves
Pepperdine Waves is the name given to the sports teams of the Pepperdine University.-See also:* Pepperdine Waves alumni* 2011-12 Pepperdine Waves men's basketball team...
. After a year of not making the NCAA Tournament, the Utes returned
1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, crushing Northeastern
Northeastern Huskies
The Northeastern University Huskies are the athletic teams representing Northeastern University. They compete in thirteen varsity team sports: men's and women's hockey ; men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's field hockey and volleyball, swimming, and men's and women's soccer , and...
94-69, before barely losing to North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
61-56. The Tar Heels would go on to the national championship game before losing to Indiana
1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represented Indiana University. The Head Coach was Bobby Knight. The team played its home games in the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference.-Roster:...
.
Though Pimm had been a successful coach at Utah, his relationship was strained with the athletic department and his final season with the Utes occurred in the 1983 campaign. Like he had in years before, Pimm would lead the Utes to the NCAA Tournament
1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 2, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known...
and yet another Sweet 16 appearance, after Utah knocked off 7th seeded Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at Assembly Hall, located on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's campus in Champaign....
and then stunned 2nd seed UCLA in the second round. Yet, like in years past, the Utes failed to advance beyond the Sweet 16 and Utah's loss to eventual national champions North Carolina State would be Pimm's last game as Utah's head coach. He left the Utes for UC Santa Barbara. Pimm's record at Utah was 173-86 (.668). He won three conference championships and had four 20+ win seasons.
Struggles return
Pimm was gone and Utah was once again looking for a head coach. This time they decided to go outside the program and hired Idaho State coach Lynn ArchibaldLynn Archibald
Lynn Archibald was the former men's basketball coach of the University of Utah from 1983-1989. Archibald led the Utes to a 98-86 record before being fired after the 1989 season. Prior to Utah, Archibald was the head coach at Idaho State University...
. Though his resume was lacking, Archibald easily endeared himself to Utah fans through his kindness and rather clean image. Unfortunately, that never translated to success on the basketball court, as Archibald's teams often underperformed. Though he had mild success with the Utes, like guiding them to the WAC Championship in 1986 and the NCAA Tournament
1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1986, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Dallas, Texas...
, he could never build on what Foster and Pimm had started. In 6 seasons at Utah, he went 98–86 and though he made three postseason appearances in a row from 1986 to '88, the program never advanced beyond the first round. The final nail in Archibald's coffin came in the 1989 season, where the Utes went 6–10 in conference play. Archibald was fired from Utah, however, the program would reach new heights in the 1990s under the new leadership of Rick Majerus
Rick Majerus
Rick Majerus is an American college basketball coach, and the men's basketball head coach at Saint Louis University. He coached previously at Marquette University , Ball State University , and the University of Utah .-Biography:Majerus graduated from Marquette University High School in 1966 and...
.
The Majerus era
With Archibald gone, a fire that upset many fans, Utah looked to the Midwest for their next coach. And though he was fairly unknown, Majerus had just finished possibly the best season in Ball StateBall State Cardinals men's basketball
The Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team is the basketball team that represent Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. The Cardinals first basketball season was 1920-1921. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's...
history, leading the Cardinals to a 29-3 record and a second round appearance in the NCAA tournament
1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington...
. Rick Majerus
Rick Majerus
Rick Majerus is an American college basketball coach, and the men's basketball head coach at Saint Louis University. He coached previously at Marquette University , Ball State University , and the University of Utah .-Biography:Majerus graduated from Marquette University High School in 1966 and...
was named the 12th head coach of the University of Utah in April 1989. During his run with Utah, he would guide them through the most successful period in the program's history, but it was a run that got off to a slow start.
Shortly after his first season with Utah began, Majerus had to step down because of medical reasons. He faced heart surgery and would not be able to lead the Utes for the rest of the year. The team was taken over by his assistant Joe Cravens and they limped to a 7-9 conference record. However, when Majerus returned for the next season, he was healthy and so was Utah's basketball program.
In his first full year as head coach, Majerus guided the Utes to a conference championship and an NCAA Sweet 16
1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
appearance. Though Utah was crushed by eventual national champ UNLV, the success Majerus had in his first full season with the Utes proved Utah basketball was once again returning to its rightful place as one of the strongest programs in the west.
During this time, a little quirk in the NCAA seeding had Utah facing Kentucky nearly every time they made the tournament. In 1993
1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, the Utes were crushed by the Wildcats 83-62 in the second round. In 1996
1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in...
, the two met in the Sweet 16 with Kentucky
1995-96 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
The 1995–96 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1995–96 college basketball history. Coached by Rick Pitino, the team finished the season with a 34–2 record and won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship over the Syracuse University...
defeating Utah 101-70. In 1997
1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, the two would meet in the Elite Eight, with Kentucky winning 72-59, though that game was far more competitive than the final score indicated. The biggest meeting between the two would take place a year later, on the biggest stage and in the biggest game in Utah basketball history.
The drive for a championship
The 1998 season kicked off with many predicting the Utes would take a step back. Utah had lost one of its best players in school history, as Keith Van HornKeith Van Horn
Keith Adam Van Horn is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward graduated from Diamond Bar High School in Diamond Bar, California and attended the University of Utah where he went on to be a consensus First Team All-American in 1997...
graduated. Yet led by Andre Miller
Andre Miller
Andre Lloyd Miller is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.- College career :...
and Michael Doleac
Michael Doleac
Michael Scott Doleac is an American former professional basketball player.Doleac was selected 12th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic...
, the Utes would begin an improbable run that would guide the program to its first national championship game in 54 years.
The Utes had dominated their way to a WAC championship and a top-5 ranking to end the 1998 regular season. They were given a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament
1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
and faced San Francisco
San Francisco Dons men's basketball
The San Francisco Dons basketball team represents the University of San Francisco in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's college basketball. The Dons compete in the West Coast Conference, in which they have won sixteen regular season and one conference tournament...
in the first round. Unlike the last time these two teams met in the NCAA Tournament, Utah cruised to an 85-68 victory. In the second round they faced Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball
The Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team represents the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The school's team currently competes in the Southeastern Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2008...
and pulled out a 75-69 victory to advance to the school's third straight Sweet 16, where they defeated West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team represents West Virginia University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. It is a member of the Big East Conference. West Virginia most recently reached the Final Four of the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, led by...
65-62, giving the Utes a second straight trip to the Elite Eight.
Reaching the Elite Eight for the second time in a row was a feat in and of itself. However, most felt Utah's run would end in 1998
1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
, as they were facing #1 seed Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
, the defending national champions. Yet, using the triangle-and-two defense
Triangle and Two Defense
The Triangle-and-Two Defense is a particular type of defense used in basketball.The Triangle-and-Two is a hybrid between a man-to-man defense in which each defensive player is responsible for marking a player on the other team, and a zone defense in which each defensive player is responsible for...
, Utah defeated Arizona 76-51. The game, one of the worst losses in Wildcat history, pushed Utah to their first Final Four in 32 years, where they beat the #1 overall seed, North Carolina, 65-59.
Heading into the national championship, Utah was looking to become the first Mid-major
Mid-major
Mid-major is a term used in American Division I college sports, to refer to athletic conferences that are not among the major six conferences...
Conference team to win the championship since UNLV won it in 1990
1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 1990, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Denver, Colorado...
. Like in the Elite Eight and Final Four, Utah jumped out to a large lead, going into the half up 10. However, they couldn't hold on and Kentucky
1997–98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
The 1997–98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team were coached by Tubby Smith. He was in his first season as head coach after taking over from Rick Pitino...
fought back and using their depth and talent, they took over the game in the final minutes and cruised to a 78-69 victory. Once again the Utes' season was ended at the hands of Kentucky. This time though, it was a loss that cost Utah a national championship.
Utah's 1998 NCAA Tournament run capped one of the greatest seasons in Utah basketball history, and cemented the Utes standing on the national stage in the 1990s — where they were one of the nation's winningest programs.
Rick Majerus career would come to an end only a few years after that run. After guiding Utah to 3 more conference championships and 4 NCAA Tournament berths (1999
1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St....
, 2000
2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2000, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, 2002
2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia...
, and 2003
2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
) which included another loss to Kentucky (the 2003 NCAA second round). Majerus retired from Utah, citing health concerns. He left the Utes with a 323-95 record, including 4 Sweet 16s, 2 Elite Eights and 1 Final Four.
Post-Majerus struggles
After Kerry RuppKerry Rupp
Kerry Rupp is an American college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Louisiana Tech University.-Head coaching record:-External links:*...
led the Utes to the NCAA Tournament
2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
to finish out the remainder of Rick Majerus' season in 2004, Utah had to look for a coach for the first time in 15 years. After being turned down by Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball
The Nevada Wolf Pack basketball program is a college basketball team that represents the University of Nevada, Reno. The team is currently a member of the Western Athletic Conference, which is a Division I conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
head coach Trent Johnson
Trent Johnson
Trent Johnson is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach of the LSU Tigers men's basketball team. Johnson had previously been the head coach at Stanford University and Nevada, where he achieved some success in the 2004 NCAA tournament with star player Kirk Snyder and...
, the Utes settled on Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington Eagles
The Eastern Washington Eagles are the intercollegiate varsity athletic teams of Eastern Washington University, located in Cheney, Washington. The athletic program comprises five men's sports: basketball, cross country, football, tennis, and track and field, and seven women's sports: basketball,...
head coach Ray Giacoletti
Ray Giacoletti
Ray Giacoletti is a men's basketball coach. He played collegiate basketball at Minot State University in North Dakota from 1980-1984, where he was a four-year letterman and a team captain for two seasons...
. An unknown from the Northwest, many fans were left wondering whether the hire would prove to be successful or not. And at first, it appeared it would be, as in his first season with the Utes, Giacoletti led them to a 29-6 record, a dominant 13-1 conference finish and a Sweet 16
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
appearance, the school's first since the amazing run in 1998. And, like in 1998, Utah would lose to their tournament nemesis, Kentucky. Utah finished the season ranked 14th in the nation; Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Michael Bogut is an Australian professional basketball player. He plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the United States' National Basketball Association....
won the Naismith
Naismith College Player of the Year
The Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
and Wooden Award
John R. Wooden Award
The John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's Player of the Year awards, the Legends of Coaching award and recognizes the All–America Teams.The awards, given by the Los...
s and was taken number 1 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft
2005 NBA Draft
The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
. Yet that success ultimately did Giacoletti in, as the Utes lost too much from that season and failed to finish above .500 in consecutive years for the first time since the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons.
On March 3, 2007, Giacoletti resigned as Utah's head coach. The resignation came a day before Utah was to play rival BYU, a game they were blown out in. Giacoletti finished his career at Utah with an 80-54 loss to UNLV in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament. Giacoletti was 54-40 at Utah, with one conference championship and a 2-1 NCAA Tournament record.
The Boylen era
On March 26, 2007, it was announced that Jim BoylenJim Boylen
-References:...
would succeed Ray Giacoletti. Boylen, an assistant under Tom Izzo
Tom Izzo
Tom Izzo is an American college basketball coach. Since 1995, he has been the head coach for the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, presiding over a prolonged period of success....
, came to Utah after spending over 20 years as an assistant at the collegiate and pro level. His 13 years in the NBA as an assistant with the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
appeared to have been an asset for a Utah program known for getting successful players into the NBA.
Jim Boylen went 18-15 in his first year at Utah, guiding the Utes to their first postseason tournament in 3 years, as they made the inaugural College Basketball Invitational
2008 College Basketball Invitational
The 2008 College Basketball Invitational was a single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams that did not participate in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament or the 2008 National Invitation Tournament...
, where they advanced to the second round before losing to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball
The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane basketball team represents the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team participates in Conference USA. The men’s team is currently coached by Doug Wojcik....
.
They also won the 2009 Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament in a close 52-50 victory over San Diego State Aztecs. Utah entered the NCAA Tournament
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
as a number 5 seed. The Utes would then be upset by the 12 seed Arizona Wildcats 84–71 in the first round.
On March 12, 2011, the University of Utah fired Jim Boylen after consecutive losing seasons.
Krystkowiak leads The Utes into the Pac-12
On April 3, 2011, the University of Utah announced Larry KrystkowiakLarry Krystkowiak
Larry Brett Krystkowiak is a retired American professional basketball player, and current head coach of the Utah Utes men's basketball team. His nicknames include Krysko and Special K...
would take over the head coaching position as the Utes transition in the inaugural season of the newly formed Pac-12. Krystkowiak, who is a former NBA player and coach, in his previous NCAA head coaching position, he spent two seasons with his alma mater of Montana
Montana Grizzlies
Montana Grizzlies is the nickname given to the athletic teams of the University of Montana. The women's basketball team, however, uses the moniker Lady Griz...
(2004–06), leading the Grizzlies to Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
tournament wins and NCAA tournament appearances in both seasons. In 2006 the Grizzlies beat a heavily favored Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball
The Nevada Wolf Pack basketball program is a college basketball team that represents the University of Nevada, Reno. The team is currently a member of the Western Athletic Conference, which is a Division I conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
team for Krystkowiak's only NCAA tournament victory as a head coach.
Overall, Krystkowiak had compiled a record of 42–20 as an NCAA Division I head coach before moving on to coach with the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
and New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
Head coaches
| Name | Seasons | Record |
| Erastus J. Milne | 1908-09 | 3-8 |
| Robert Richardson | 1909-10 | 17-3 |
| Fred Bennion | 1911-14 | 44-9 |
| Thomas Fitzpatrick Thomas Fitzpatrick (coach) Thomas M. Fitzpatrick was a basketball and football coach for the University of Utah Utes. From 1917 to 1925, he was the coach of the Utah men's basketball team where his teams had a cumulative record of 42–30 . For the Utah football team, he was coach from 1919 to 1924 and had a cumulative record... |
1917-25 | 42-30 |
| Ike Armstrong Ike Armstrong Ike J. Armstrong was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the University of Utah from 1925 to 1949, compiling a record of 141–55–15... |
1925-27 | 9-18 |
| Vadal Peterson Vadal Peterson Vadal Peterson was an American basketball coach with the distinction of coaching the most wins in University of Utah history. He guided Utah through 26 seasons from 1927 to 1953. He also led Utah to its only NCAA College Basketball Championship when the Utes defeated Dartmouth College 42-40 in 1944... |
1927-53 | 385-230 |
| Jack Gardner Jack Gardner (basketball) -Head Coaching Record at Utah:-External links:*... |
1953-71 | 339-154 |
| Bill Foster Bill Foster (college basketball coach) Bill Foster was the head men's basketball coach at Rutgers University, University of Utah, Duke University, University of South Carolina, and Northwestern University. He is best known for guiding Duke to the NCAA championship game in 1978, and that year he was named national Coach of the Year by... |
1971-74 | 43-39 |
| Jerry Pimm Jerry Pimm Jerry Pimm is a men's basketball coach who is best remembered for coaching at the University of Utah from 1974–1983 and the University of California, Santa Barbara from 1983-1998.... |
1974-83 | 173-86 |
| Lynn Archibald Lynn Archibald Lynn Archibald was the former men's basketball coach of the University of Utah from 1983-1989. Archibald led the Utes to a 98-86 record before being fired after the 1989 season. Prior to Utah, Archibald was the head coach at Idaho State University... |
1983-89 | 98-86 |
| Rick Majerus Rick Majerus Rick Majerus is an American college basketball coach, and the men's basketball head coach at Saint Louis University. He coached previously at Marquette University , Ball State University , and the University of Utah .-Biography:Majerus graduated from Marquette University High School in 1966 and... |
1989-04 | 323-95 |
| Joe Cravens Joe Cravens Joe Cravens is a former men's college basketball coach. During his career, Cravens held the head coaching positions at Weber State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of Utah.... (acting) |
1989-90 | 12-12 |
| Dick Hunsaker Dick Hunsaker Dick Hunsaker is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Utah Valley University. He is also a former head and assistant coach at Ball State University... (acting) |
2000-01 | 18-12 |
| Kerry Rupp Kerry Rupp Kerry Rupp is an American college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Louisiana Tech University.-Head coaching record:-External links:*... (interim) |
2004 | 9-4 |
| Ray Giacoletti Ray Giacoletti Ray Giacoletti is a men's basketball coach. He played collegiate basketball at Minot State University in North Dakota from 1980-1984, where he was a four-year letterman and a team captain for two seasons... |
2005-07 | 54-40 |
| Jim Boylen Jim Boylen -References:... |
2007-11 | 69-60 |
| Larry Krystkowiak Larry Krystkowiak Larry Brett Krystkowiak is a retired American professional basketball player, and current head coach of the Utah Utes men's basketball team. His nicknames include Krysko and Special K... |
2011- |
Season-by-season results
| Season | Head Coach | Conference | Overall | Postseason |
| 1943-44 1943-44 Utah Utes men's basketball team The Utes captured the Mountain States Conference championship and its only national championship. The circumstances were nearly identical to the previous season’s champions, the Wyoming Cowboys.The Arkansas Razorbacks team was victimized by an auto accident... |
Vadal Peterson Vadal Peterson Vadal Peterson was an American basketball coach with the distinction of coaching the most wins in University of Utah history. He guided Utah through 26 seasons from 1927 to 1953. He also led Utah to its only NCAA College Basketball Championship when the Utes defeated Dartmouth College 42-40 in 1944... |
-- | 22-4 | NCAA Champions 1944 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament -External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.... |
| 1944-45 | Vadal Peterson | 8-0 (1st) | 17-4 | NCAA Regional Semifinals 1945 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1945 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 8 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 22, 1945, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in New York City... |
| 1945-46 | Vadal Peterson | 8-4 (3rd) | 12-8 | |
| 1946-47 | Vadal Peterson | 10-2 (2nd) | 19-5 | NIT Champions 1947 National Invitation Tournament The 1947 National Invitation Tournament was the 1947 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 8 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket.... |
| 1947-48 | Vadal Peterson | 6-4 (2nd) | 11-9 | |
| 1948-49 | Vadal Peterson | 14-6 (2nd) | 24-8 | NIT First Round 1949 National Invitation Tournament The 1949 National Invitation Tournament was the 1949 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 12 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket.... |
| 1949-50 | Vadal Peterson | 8-12 (5th) | 16-18 | |
| 1950-51 | Vadal Peterson | 12-8 (3rd) | 23-13 | |
| 1951-52 | Vadal Peterson | 8-6 (4th) | 19-9 | |
| 1952-53 | Vadal Peterson | 5-9 (5th) | 10-14 | |
| 1953-54 | Jack Gardner Jack Gardner (basketball) -Head Coaching Record at Utah:-External links:*... |
7-7 (4th) | 12-14 | |
| 1954-55 | Jack Gardner Jack Gardner (basketball) -Head Coaching Record at Utah:-External links:*... |
13-1 (1st) | 24-4 | NCAA Sweet 16 1955 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament -West region:-National Championship:-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.... |
| 1955-56 | Jack Gardner Jack Gardner (basketball) -Head Coaching Record at Utah:-External links:*... |
12-2 (1st) | 22-6 | NCAA Elite Eight 1956 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament -Midwest Region:-West Region:-Far West Region:-Final Four:-Notes:* Canisius's first-round victory over the second-ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack, considered by many to be among the top ten upsets in tournament history, set a record for most overtime periods in a Division I Men's tournament... |
| 1956-57 | Jack Gardner Jack Gardner (basketball) -Head Coaching Record at Utah:-External links:*... |
10-4 (2nd) | 19-8 | NIT First Round 1957 National Invitation Tournament The 1957 National Invitation Tournament was the 1957 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 12 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket.... |
| 1957-58 | Jack Gardner Jack Gardner (basketball) -Head Coaching Record at Utah:-External links:*... |
9-5 (2nd) | 20-7 | NIT First Round 1958 National Invitation Tournament The 1958 National Invitation Tournament was the 1958 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 12 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket.... |
| 1958-59 | Jack Gardner | 13-1 (1st) | 21-7 | NCAA Sweet 16 1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 7, 1959, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in Louisville,... |
| 1959-60 | Jack Gardner | 13-1 (1st) | 26-3 | NCAA Sweet 16 1960 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1960 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 7, 1960, and ended with the championship game on March 19 in Daly City,... |
| 1960-61 | Jack Gardner | 12-2 (1st) | 23-8 | NCAA Final Four 1961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 24 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 14, 1961, and ended with the championship game on March 25 in Kansas... |
| 1961-62 | Jack Gardner | 13-1 (1st) | 23-3 | |
| 1962-63 | Jack Gardner | 5-5 (3rd) | 12-14 | |
| 1963-64 | Jack Gardner | 4-6 (4th) | 19-9 | |
| 1964-65 | Jack Gardner | 3-7 (6th) | 17-9 | |
| 1965-66 | Jack Gardner | 7-3 (1st) | 23-8 | NCAA Final Four 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 22 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1966, and ended with the championship game on March 19 in College Park, Maryland... |
| 1966-67 | Jack Gardner | 5-5 (3rd) | 15-11 | |
| 1967-68 | Jack Gardner | 5-5 (2nd) | 17-9 | |
| 1968-69 | Jack Gardner | 5-5 (2nd) | 13-13 | |
| 1969-70 | Jack Gardner | 9-5 (2nd) | 18-10 | NIT Second Round 1970 National Invitation Tournament The 1970 National Invitation Tournament was unique in that coach Al McGuire of Marquette University, unhappy with his team's placement, turned down a bid to the NCAA tournament and elected to play in the NIT instead. His Marquette Warriors went on to claim the championship.This tournament... |
| 1970-71 | Jack Gardner | 9-5 (2nd) | 15-11 | |
| 1971-72 | Bill Foster Bill Foster (college basketball coach) Bill Foster was the head men's basketball coach at Rutgers University, University of Utah, Duke University, University of South Carolina, and Northwestern University. He is best known for guiding Duke to the NCAA championship game in 1978, and that year he was named national Coach of the Year by... |
5-9 (6th) | 13-12 | |
| 1972-73 | Bill Foster | 4-10 (7th) | 8-19 | |
| 1973-74 | Bill Foster | 9-5(2nd) | 22-8 | NIT Runner-up 1974 National Invitation Tournament The 1974 National Invitation Tournament was the 1974 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket.... |
| 1974-75 | Jerry Pimm Jerry Pimm Jerry Pimm is a men's basketball coach who is best remembered for coaching at the University of Utah from 1974–1983 and the University of California, Santa Barbara from 1983-1998.... |
7-7 (4th) | 17-9 | |
| 1975-76 | Jerry Pimm | 9-5 (2nd) | 19-8 | |
| 1976-77 | Jerry Pimm | 11-3 (1st) | 22-7 | NCAA Sweet 16 1977 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1977 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 American schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the National Champion of Men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1977, and ended with the championship game on March 28 in Atlanta, Georgia. A... |
| 1977-78 | Jerry Pimm | 12-2 (2nd) | 23-6 | NCAA Sweet 16 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1978, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in St. Louis, Missouri... |
| 1978-79 | Jerry Pimm | 9-3 (2nd) | 20-10 | NCAA First Round 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah... |
| 1979-80 | Jerry Pimm | 10-4 (2nd) | 18-10 | |
| 1980-81 | Jerry Pimm | 13-3 (1st) | 25-5 | NCAA Sweet 16 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... |
| 1981-82 | Jerry Pimm | 6-10 (7th) | 11-17 | |
| 1982-83 | Jerry Pimm | 11-5 (1st) | 18-14 | NCAA Sweet 16 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 2, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known... |
| 1983-84 | Lynn Archibald Lynn Archibald Lynn Archibald was the former men's basketball coach of the University of Utah from 1983-1989. Archibald led the Utes to a 98-86 record before being fired after the 1989 season. Prior to Utah, Archibald was the head coach at Idaho State University... |
4-12 (8th) | 11-19 | |
| 1984-85 | Lynn Archibald | 8-8 (6th) | 15-16 | |
| 1985-86 | Lynn Archibald | 12-4 (1st) | 20-10 | NCAA First Round 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1986, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Dallas, Texas... |
| 1986-87 | Lynn Archibald | 9-7 (5th) | 17-13 | NIT First Round 1987 National Invitation Tournament -Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Nebraska 76, Arkansas-Little Rock 67... |
| 1987-88 | Lynn Archibald | 11-5 (2nd) | 19-11 | NIT First Round 1988 National Invitation Tournament -Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Colorado State 58, Boston College 57... |
| 1988-89 | Lynn Archibald | 6-10 (6th) | 16-17 | |
| 1989-90 | Rick Majerus Rick Majerus Rick Majerus is an American college basketball coach, and the men's basketball head coach at Saint Louis University. He coached previously at Marquette University , Ball State University , and the University of Utah .-Biography:Majerus graduated from Marquette University High School in 1966 and... (*1) |
7-9 (6th) | 16-14 | |
| 1990-91 | Rick Majerus | 15-1 (1st) | 30-4 | NCAA Sweet 16 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
| 1991-92 | Rick Majerus | 9-7 (4th) | 24-11 | NIT Final Four 1992 National Invitation Tournament -Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Utah 81, Florida 78... |
| 1992-93 | Rick Majerus | 15-3 (1st) | 24-7 | NCAA Second Round 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana... |
| 1993-94 | Rick Majerus | 8-10(5th) | 14-14 | |
| 1994-95 | Rick Majerus | 15-3 (1st) | 28-6 | NCAA Second Round 1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1995, and ended with the championship game on April 3 at the Kingdome in Seattle,... |
| 1995-96 | Rick Majerus | 15-3 (1st) | 27-7 | NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in... |
| 1996-97 | Rick Majerus | 15-1 (1st) | 29-4 | NCAA Elite Eight 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
| 1997-98 | Rick Majerus | 12-2 (1st) | 30-4 | NCAA Runner-up 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,... |
| 1998-99 | Rick Majerus | 14-0 (1st) | 28-5 | NCAA Second Round 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St.... |
| 1999-00 | Rick Majerus | 10-4 (1st) | 23-9 | NCAA Second Round 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2000, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
| 2000-01 | Rick Majerus (*2) | 10-4 (1st) | 19-12 | NIT First Round 2001 National Invitation Tournament -Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Memphis 86, Detroit 71... |
| 2001-02 | Rick Majerus | 10-4 (2nd) | 21-9 | NCAA First Round 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia... |
| 2002-03 | Rick Majerus | 11-3 (1st) | 25-8 | NCAA Second Round 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana... |
| 2002-04 | Rick Majerus (*3) | 9-5 (3rd) | 24-9 | NCAA First Round 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,... |
| 2004-05 | Ray Giacoletti Ray Giacoletti Ray Giacoletti is a men's basketball coach. He played collegiate basketball at Minot State University in North Dakota from 1980-1984, where he was a four-year letterman and a team captain for two seasons... |
13-1 (1st) | 29-6 | NCAA Sweet 16 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St... |
| 2005-06 | Ray Giacoletti | 6-10 (6th) | 14-15 | |
| 2006-07 | Ray Giacoletti | 6-10 (6th) | 11-19 | |
| 2007-08 | Jim Boylen Jim Boylen -References:... |
7-9 (6th) | 18-15 | CBI Second Round 2008 College Basketball Invitational The 2008 College Basketball Invitational was a single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams that did not participate in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament or the 2008 National Invitation Tournament... |
| 2008-09 | Jim Boylen | 12-4 (1st) | 25-10 | NCAA First Round 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT.... |
| 2009-10 | Jim Boylen | 7-9 (5th) | 14-17 | |
| 2010-11 | Jim Boylen | 6-10 (7th) | 13-18 | |
| 2011-12 | Larry Krystkowiak Larry Krystkowiak Larry Brett Krystkowiak is a retired American professional basketball player, and current head coach of the Utah Utes men's basketball team. His nicknames include Krysko and Special K... |
-- | -- | |
- 1 - Majerus coached six games (4-2) before undergoing heart surgery. Assistant Joe Cravens (12-12, 7-9) was the acting coach the rest of the season.
- 2 - Majerus coached first game (1-0) before taking a personal leave of absence. Assistant Dick Hunsaker finished the season.
- 3 - Majerus coached the first 20 games (15-5, 3-2) of the season before retiring from Utah. Assistant Kerry Rupp finished out the year (9-4, 6-3).
Top-25 finishes
The University of Utah has consistently been a top-25 team throughout its history. Outside of various seasons cracking the top-25, Utah has ended the season ranked in the top-25 19 times, the most of any Mountain West Conference team.| Year | Record | Ranking |
| 1949 | 24- 7 | 12 |
| 1955 | 24- 4 | 7 |
| 1956 | 22-6 | 18 |
| 1959 | 25- 7 | 18 |
| 1960 | 26- 3 | 7 |
| 1961 | 24- 7 | 11 |
| 1962 | 23- 3 | 7 |
| 1974 | 22- 8 | 15 |
| 1977 | 23- 7 | 14 |
| 1978 | 23- 6 | 14 |
| 1981 | 25- 5 | 14 |
| 1991 | 30-4 | 10 |
| 1993 | 24- 7 | 19 |
| 1995 | 28- 6 | 19 |
| 1996 | 27- 7 | 12 |
| 1997 | 29- 4 | 2 |
| 1998 | 30- 4 | 7 |
| 1999 | 28-5 | 6 |
| 2005 | 29- 6 | 18 |
| 2009 | 24- 10 | 25 |
See also
- List of teams with the most victories in NCAA Division I men's college basketball