Column: Why did Craig Smith Leave Utah State?

On March 4, just moments after the final buzzer sounded to solidify a 72-59 Utah State victory over Wyoming, Craig Smith stood on the court, presumably soaking in the scene of the Spectrum in what was the final home game of the season. 

Interrupting his contemplation, a group of students summoned the Utah State head coach to turn around for a socially distant selfie. Standing in the background, as the students yelled “cheese”, Smith lifted his arms and exclaimed, “best fans in the world!” 

Fast forward just 23 days, after wrapping up a press conference on the University of Utah campus, Smith — who was donning a brand new red fleece — put his hands together like he was playing table football, and flashed the “go Utes!” U.

After three seasons as the Aggies’ coach — where he compiled a 74-24 record, punched three tickets to the NCAA tournament, and won two Mountain West conference tournament championships — Smith was gone, joining one of the enemies down south. 

Looking through a certain lens, the move didn’t make much sense. Building a consistent winner for the first time since the Stew Morrill years, Smith was well on his way to becoming canonized in basketball-crazed Cache Valley. Sure, he was likely to lose future NBA center Neemias Queta, but he still had the returning core of Justin Bean, Marco Anthony, Rollie Worster and a staff fully capable of bringing in extra talent. 

But instead of sticking around to build upon his success, Smith decided to take on the difficult task of rebuilding the Utah basketball program. The Runnin’ Utes — which are completely overshadowed by Utah’s football program and the NBA’s Utah Jazz just down the hill — haven’t sniffed the ‘Big Dance’ since Jakob Poeltl and Kyle Kuzma led them there in 2016. But from the perspective of every fiscally responsible person not brainwashed by the ‘Blue Mint’ ice cream, Smith’s decision was rather obvious. 

Contrary to the words of Jessie J, it is all about the money. 

Smith is reportedly going to make $18 million over a six-year period at Utah. 

Disregarding bonuses, Smith made $775,000 for the 2020-21 season at Utah State. Having just earned a contract extension, that wage would have been incrementally raised to $900,000 for the 2025-26 season – his final year on the contract. 

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Smith, a native of Minnesota, doesn’t owe USU anything and is leaving for triple the cash. A rational person can’t blame him for making that decision. 

But it doesn’t mean you have to be happy about it. 

For Aggie fans, it feels like you’re the humble and loving partner that’s just been dumped for your underachieving yet presumptuous neighbor.

Whether it was the decision of former athletic director Chris Hill, former head coach Larry Krystkowiak or current AD Mark Harlan and football coach Kyle Whittingham, Utah has refused to play the Aggies in football or basketball for nearly a decade, killing the “Battle of the Brothers” rivalry which has existed since 1892. 

After Utah State basketball beat Utah 79-62 in the Spectrum in 2010, the two squads have met on the hardwood just once — a neutral site game in 2017 for the Beehive Classic. 

And now, after pretending that the Aggies are nonexistent for practically an entire decade, the Utes poach Smith, ending a tenure that was arguably the best thing to happen to USU athletics since Chuckie Keeton was its quarterback. 

Smith’s abrupt departure also serves as a reality check for Utah State. 

Whether it’s ‘Spectrum Magic’ or the ‘Spirit of Wayne Estes,’ Aggie fans believe there is something palpably special surrounding its basketball program. 

The legendary coach Morrill understood it; having never played or coached in Logan before he was hired to be the head coach for the Aggies in 1999, Morrill stuck around all the way until his retirement in 2015. Throughout that time, he had opportunities to move on, but chose to stay. His commitment resulted in unparalleled success — seven conference championships and 8 NCAA tournament appearances. 

While not the expectation, there was a hope that Smith would do the same. Follow the path of Morrill, or better yet, the path of Mark Few at Gonzaga, and grow USU into a mid-major perennial power. But these days, those types of coaches are Few and far between. 

The current reality: Utah State is just another mid-major, a stepping stone for bigger and better.

A member of the college basketball media texted me on Saturday, “it’s always, always, always, about the money.” 

So Smith leaves a school renowned for being one of the most difficult college basketball venues to play in in the nation, to coach in an arena that puts up a curtain to cover its upper bowl during basketball games, only to be taken down for gymnastics meets. 

When Smith and his staff win in Salt Lake City — and they will win — and that arena starts to fill up, will he look out to the crowd of bandwagon Utah fans, and exclaim “Best fans in the world!” to them as well?

Maybe.   

But does this mean Smith’s contagious exuberance that fans have grown to love, which I wrote about here just two weeks ago, insincere? 

His departure came just two days after he told Shawn Harrison of the Herald Journal, “My plan is to be the Aggie coach and try to get us back there (to the NCAA tournament) next year and build this into a powerhouse.”

Apparently not anymore. 

The quote was certainly misleading, but I don’t think it was Smith’s intention to lie through his teeth. He had already interviewed for the Utah job, but didn’t expect to get it because at the time there were two individuals in line for the job. It took both of them backing out for the offer to get extended to Smith. 

So on Thursday, his plan really was to stay. 

Smith himself has said, “It’s been a great move for our family, we love it here, it’s a tremendous league, and we’re surrounded by amazing people.” 

He won a lot of games and brought a lot of joy into the heart of Aggies nation, and I believe it was reciprocated. By all indications, Smith and his family loved the Cache Valley community and thoroughly enjoyed their time here. 

But like anything else, college basketball is a business, and Smith got an offer from the Utes that he could not pass up.