Craig Smith Hires Curran Walsh As Director Of Basketball Operations For Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Runnin’ Utes head coach Craig Smith announced that he has hired Curran Walsh as Utah’s Director of Basketball Operations.

Curran Walsh will reunite with Craig Smith as he spent the last two seasons with Utah State as the Director of Player Development.

Smith released the following statement on the hiring of Walsh.

“We are thrilled to announce that Curran will be joining the Runnin’ Utes basketball family,” said Smith. “Curran is an elite communicator and a relationship builder. He is highly organized and very intelligent. He is first-class in everything he approaches. He has a bright future ahead in college basketball.”

Ute Fans, please help us welcome Curran Walsh to the Runnin' Utes basketball family!

📰 https://t.co/33QNx8A0sT
#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/ip5cZrfnA8

— Utah Basketball🏀 (@UtahMBB) April 12, 2021

Walsh helped Smith and the Aggies reach the NCAA Tournament in both years he was on staff. He guided All-American Sam Merrill to an NBA career, becoming the first Utah State player to get drafted since 1986.

Before his stop at Utah State, Walsh spent two seasons on the Loyola Marymount staff, holding a variety of duties including assisting in film work, scouting, scheduling and logistics.

Walsh started the player development side of his career when he worked with Chris Johnson Hoops, helping several NBA and professional basketball players.

Smith still needs to hire one more assistant coach. When he joined the Crimson Corner for a stream last Thursday, he told KSL Sports off air that he had not found that third assistant coach yet.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.