Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Utah men’s basketball hires a general manager, as college landscape shifts

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As the Utes deal with roster turnover, Craig Smith hires Mike Summey to help navigate the changing landscape.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith as Utah hosts Virginia Commonwealth in the NIT quarterfinals, NCAA basketball in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Utah head coach Craig Smith will hire former Campbell assistant coach Mike Summey to become the program’s general manager, The Salt Lake Tribune has confirmed.

The hire was first reported by 247Sports.

Before being hired by the Runnin’ Utes, Summey served two seasons as an assistant coach with the Fighting Camels, finishing with a 30-36 record. Summey also served coaching stints with NC State from 2020-22, Bowling Green from 2015-20 and St. Francis from 2013-15.

Summey’s role will likely fill out Utah’s coaching staff for the 2024-25 season, as Smith looks to lead the U. back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. Ahead of Utah’s Big 12 move, Smith has seen his fair share of roster turnover this offseason, welcoming six new players from the transfer portal and two freshmen from the 2024 recruiting class.

The U also saw three assistant coaches depart this offseason, with Chris Burgess leaving for BYU, DeMarlo Slocum taking a job with Washington and Tramel Barnes, more recently, leaving for South Dakota State. Smith has hired Lo Leath, Josh Eilert, David Evans and now Summey in their places.

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