WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:00.520 All right. 2 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:03.960 Drive with Spans Jackets continues on this beautiful Thursday afternoon 3 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.200 across the landscape from Salt Lake City, and please to 4 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:09.480 welcome in the seventeenth head coach in the history of 5 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:12.039 the Utah men's basketball program. Known him a long time, 6 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:14.080 thrilled for him, thrilled for his wife and the kids. 7 00:00:14.119 --> 00:00:17.079 Alex Jensen is our guest on this Thursday afternoon. Al 8 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:17.960 Happy Thursday man. 9 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:18.440 How you doing. 10 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:21.280 I'm doing good. How are you doing sick? 11 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:22.399 I'm well, I'm well. 12 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:24.160 I was teasing the off air that I thought you 13 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:26.920 were contractually obligated to do your first interview with me 14 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:28.839 since you landed in the market, but I'm going to 15 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:31.280 put that aside because I'm a professional howl. 16 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:32.439 We're going to focus on the moment. 17 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:36.600 I'm beyond thrilled that this was the decision from the 18 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:38.840 administration and that you said yes. 19 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:39.600 So congrats. 20 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.280 Because I haven't had a chance to catch up with you, 21 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:44.679 just big picture, what the last few weeks been like 22 00:00:44.759 --> 00:00:47.439 since the season ended in Dallas. We all know that 23 00:00:47.479 --> 00:00:50.399 you were doing a lot of work even when you 24 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:53.399 were coaching with the MAVs, But since the season ended 25 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:55.039 with Dallas, what have the past few weeks been like 26 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:57.840 al no, well. 27 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:00.399 They've actually the last few weeks were actually a little 28 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:04.200 bit better than the previous the previous two weeks before that, 29 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:06.640 but it's been it's been good. Like I you know, 30 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:08.239 I told you off there as well. I'm trying to 31 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:12.879 be diligent. And the advice I've had from other college 32 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:16.159 guys and NBA guys that I've talked to is, you know, 33 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:19.200 like like take your time, don't be rushed with everything, 34 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:22.319 which I've tried to do, which hasn't you know, always 35 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:24.480 been easy or you know, easy for those that are 36 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:27.959 associated with the program. But no, I'm getting I'm optimistic, 37 00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:31.840 and uh, I'm excited. I'm excited to build it and 38 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:34.120 you know, do what I the way I feel its 39 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:35.599 the right way for sure. 40 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:37.959 I wonder how you know a lot of reports and 41 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.280 I've talked to people about this as well. You know 42 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:42.439 last time around when there was an opening up here. 43 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:45.000 I know that you spoke with Mark Harlan. I know 44 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:48.560 there were conversations last time around. What what was the 45 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:51.680 difference this time around after the decision was made to 46 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:54.599 move on from Craig Smith, who is a great man 47 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:56.239 and I think he's a really good coach and has 48 00:01:56.280 --> 00:01:58.159 a lot of coaching left in his future. But the 49 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:01.280 difference this time around you to taking the job was 50 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:01.959 what olt. 51 00:02:03.799 --> 00:02:05.680 It's a great question. I don't know if I could 52 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:08.879 put my finger on one thing. I think the you know, 53 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:10.919 I think the timing was a lot different, and I think, 54 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:15.199 you know, in college basketball changed in that time as well, 55 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:19.560 and you know, I just think it was probably I 56 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:22.039 would put it on, you know, kind of a place 57 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:24.159 where me and my family, you know, I got three 58 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:27.800 girls and they're getting older, and you know, there's something 59 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:31.000 to be said for the stability of it, and uh, 60 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:33.280 you know, I just think it was, you know, kind 61 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:35.919 of the timing of everything that it worked out well. 62 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:38.599 But again, I think I think personally, like in my 63 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:40.759 in my life that you know, I was more of 64 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.520 a place for if that makes any sense, me and 65 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:44.919 my family, it makes. 66 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:46.400 A lot of sense. And I'll follow up with this. 67 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:50.680 I always believed, and part of me still does, that 68 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:54.520 you were going to or eventually could be the head 69 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:56.240 coach of an NBA basketball team. 70 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:58.199 I mean that maybe that's that's me al right. 71 00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:00.639 And all of the work you did here with Quinn, 72 00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:03.120 all of the work you've done throughout the course of 73 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:06.560 your life as a coach in college for a minute 74 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:07.919 with Rick, and I do want to talk about that. 75 00:03:07.960 --> 00:03:10.039 In the moment, I just feel I felt like you 76 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:11.960 were gonna end up being a head coach. Did just 77 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:15.080 out of curiosity? Did you do some calculations to maybe 78 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:17.599 believe that that was not part of your future and 79 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:21.159 this was your best chance to have your own team? 80 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:24.039 You know? You know what, Spence, There's a common line 81 00:03:24.039 --> 00:03:26.000 in the NBA they talk about like it's one of 82 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:28.840 thirty right, or a GM job or a coaching job. 83 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:32.000 And I've always said this, and I still believe it 84 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:35.159 to my core, Like I've never I've never approached it 85 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:38.039 that way, like like I honestly, I you know, because 86 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:41.759 you know, just to be a a head coach. I 87 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:43.319 mean there's a lot of a lot of first head 88 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:47.039 coaching jobs aren't a great situation. And and I've always 89 00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:48.960 said this, I don't care if I'm the head coach 90 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:51.319 or I just want to be in a you know, 91 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:53.719 a good place surrounded by good people, which I wasn't 92 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:56.520 with the Jazz for a long time, and just to 93 00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:58.000 be able to do what I you know, have a 94 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:02.560 passion for and I love but like I never, I never, never, 95 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:05.120 you know, it was going to take a job just 96 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:07.360 because it was a head coaching job, if that makes sense. 97 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:09.280 Not that I was, you know, had you know, many 98 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:13.360 of those opportunities. But yeah, no, I think it's just 99 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:15.439 like with this job this time around. I think it 100 00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:17.680 was the timing of everything, and I think it a 101 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:18.839 lot of it has to do with the people that 102 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:19.720 you're going to be doing it. 103 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:25.399 With, certainly, certainly, Yeah, yeah, no, that no, it makes 104 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:27.000 a lot of sense. It makes a lot of sense. 105 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.480 And I was just giving you my personal take that 106 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.120 I thought that that was going to be an opportunity. 107 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:32.920 But to your point, a lot of those guys are 108 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:36.240 hired to be fired. And when you see a guy 109 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:38.680 like Michael Malone lose a job a couple of years 110 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:40.800 after getting a ring, and a guy like Taylor Jenkins 111 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:42.879 lose a job after being the most successful coach in 112 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:46.439 Memphis Grizzly history, I would imagine that even underscores how 113 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:47.800 nice it is for you to have a bit of 114 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:51.240 a runway and also security, how where you and Natalie 115 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:53.079 have roots, right, that had to play into it. 116 00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:57.160 Oh yeah, one hundred percent. You know, and and Taylor. 117 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:00.319 I coached with Taylor and the D League. Phenomenal coach, 118 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:02.720 Like he'll get another job. You know, he's one of 119 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:05.800 the he's really good. He was always a good team. 120 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:07.279 Like if you have that scout, it was it fun 121 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:09.720 to do because it was you know, you'd learned. But yeah, 122 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:12.439 same thing with with Mike Malone in Denver. And you 123 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.079 know in the NBA is you know, the Great League, 124 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:20.240 and it's, uh, it seems like it's more you know, 125 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:23.439 unpredictable and yeah, like the stability, and I think, you know, 126 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:26.040 it's interesting because I thought, I I kind of looked 127 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:29.399 at you know, college with the nil and everything, and 128 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.480 I think as time goes on, they'll they'll put more 129 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:36.000 like regulations in and I think it could actually kind 130 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:38.720 of be a you know, it's a little wild right now, 131 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:40.360 but I think it, you know, it could be somewhat 132 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:43.560 of a good thing with a little more structure. 133 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:47.240 Well, of course, the name Rick Manjaris will always loom 134 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:49.879 large around here, and the first time I interviewed both 135 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:53.360 coach Criscoviac and coach Smith, I promised them that I 136 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:55.639 would not invoke his name in order to not be 137 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:59.759 fair to them, because that is an expectation that is 138 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:01.959 hard to live up to, and you know, it's It's 139 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:05.439 funny all over the years whenever I've interviewed your former 140 00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:08.480 teammates or anybody close to the program. Obviously you know, 141 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:11.319 Britton Johnson's a good friend of mine, and they always 142 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:13.639 tell the story that, you know, you were always his 143 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:16.800 favorite and you were always the one that he uh, 144 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:17.800 you know, trusted. 145 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:18.920 I think trust is. 146 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:21.079 The word that I land on when it comes to 147 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:23.959 my view of the relationship between the two of you. 148 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:27.879 But talk about as a guy who played for him 149 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:31.480 and coach next to him, the expectation that you think 150 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:35.800 is realistic and the expectation he set for you as 151 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:37.279 a player and a coach, and whether or not that 152 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:39.399 is something you kind of use as a north star, 153 00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:40.279 if that makes sense. 154 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:44.879 Yeah, no, no, it was that, you know, I've you know, 155 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:48.120 I've reflected on my you know, kind of my progression 156 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:50.560 as a coach, and I've been really lucky and to 157 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:54.319 start with him, like that's a great you know, not 158 00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:57.519 to be critical of a lot of younger coaches. I 159 00:06:57.560 --> 00:06:59.639 was lucky to have him at the beginning because it's 160 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:03.439 a great foundation to uh, you know, to kind of 161 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:06.439 grow and learn from as opposed, I think the NBA 162 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:09.639 is a hard place to to start coaching, to like 163 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:11.319 learn the game, if that makes sense. And you look 164 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:13.040 at a lot of the great coaches, you know, Phil 165 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:16.879 Jackson and and uh George carl and I think even 166 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:20.199 Van Gundhi, Like you know, this always interesting to see 167 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:22.800 where they started. But you know, being able to play 168 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:25.439 for coach mcjerius and coach with them, I got to see, 169 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:29.319 you know, two different sides. And you know, the best 170 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:31.480 thing I got from him, well, the first thing is 171 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:35.319 when people asked about, you know, the thing you took 172 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:37.759 from Like I always say this, like he ruins the 173 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:39.519 game for you in a lot of ways, because you 174 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:42.680 can't watch a game with that without critiquing it and 175 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:46.160 seeing what everybody's doing wrong. So it's kind of interesting. 176 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:48.079 But at the same time, the one thing that that 177 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:51.600 to this day that I think that he was remarkable 178 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:56.759 at was like he was like we had long practices 179 00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:59.439 when I first got here, but like he coached every 180 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:02.759 even if he was eating a hamburger or in the 181 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:06.199 middle of it, he was still he was one hundred 182 00:08:06.279 --> 00:08:11.199 percent there coaching and intent and seeing everything, and you 183 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:13.279 know it Spence. Not to get long winded here, but 184 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.600 like I've never been never played football, never been around it. 185 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:20.399 But when we were in Dallas, Bill Belichick came and 186 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:22.319 talked to us. I've listened to Mike Tomlin and I 187 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:26.000 love those guys, and they always talk about like just 188 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:28.279 grinding week to week. And it always reminded me of 189 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:31.319 the jerious because whether it was a preseason game or 190 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:35.799 an NCAA tournament game like it was, it was always 191 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:38.960 he never talked about we want to make the tournament, 192 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:40.679 we want to win the league. It was always the 193 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:44.919 next game, right, like getting better and then then everything 194 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:47.039 else will take care of itself. So that was like 195 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:50.600 a good thing too for me. And it's you know, 196 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.159 it's what I'm going to try to do, but you know, 197 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:56.639 expectations like he set the standard and and again I'm 198 00:08:56.679 --> 00:08:59.320 and you know he uh, you know, it was a 199 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:04.519 different time in college than it is now. But no, 200 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:07.519 like that's the I'm gonna take a lot of the 201 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:10.240 things that he taught me and start to do him 202 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:11.639 in my own way. And I think that's a big 203 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:13.440 mistake some people make. I'm not going to try to 204 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:15.200 be him. I think I did that early on in 205 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:20.039 my coaching career. But yeah, no, he's he's the standard 206 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:23.120 bearer and that's what you know, kind of everybody from 207 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:26.120 since then, and you know after me will be kind 208 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:30.240 of be compared to. But you know, I look at 209 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:32.120 it as it a good thing because a lot of 210 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:34.960 people remember those days, and when we talk to recruits 211 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:37.600 now we can talk about it, and they might be 212 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:39.440 too young to remember it, but you know, their agent 213 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:41.799 or their coach or they will remembering. It gives us 214 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:44.159 some credibility, so. 215 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:48.360 You reference earlier al how college basketball has changed. And 216 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:53.759 I wonder ultimately the bottom line is whether you're Utah 217 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:57.000 or BYU or Southern Illinois, doesn't matter who you are. 218 00:09:57.080 --> 00:10:01.360 You have to have the financial resources, the economic ecosystem 219 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:04.279 in place to make sure that you can pay these 220 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:06.840 players to play for you. I mean, there's no other 221 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:07.399 way to put it. 222 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:07.879 At this point. 223 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:10.600 The people you say transfer portal, I call it free agency. 224 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:13.679 And we're moving closer to the house of the NCAA 225 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:16.960 settlement you guys are at. We'll have some more guardrails 226 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:19.320 in place, and hopefully that brings a little bit of stability. 227 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.840 But I would imagine now I don't want to speak 228 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:24.200 for you, and I'm not leading the witness, but you 229 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:27.000 would not have taken this job if there weren't promises 230 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:29.039 in place that you would have the bankroll that you 231 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:30.759 need to stay competitive with your peers. 232 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:31.600 Is that fair to say? 233 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:37.240 Yeah, yeah, yeah, obviously, you know those are questions I asked. 234 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:39.960 But you know, playing being from here and coming from here, 235 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:43.679 like you know, I'm aware of that. You know, the 236 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:47.960 university is very capable of providing those resources. And talking 237 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:50.639 to a lot of my college coaching friends, like they 238 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:52.600 all talk about it, you got it, like it's funny. 239 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:54.240 You got to get money and got to get money. 240 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:56.799 But when I was going through the process of taking 241 00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:58.759 the job, and even after I took it, I think 242 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:01.120 I kind of like it. Maybe I'm naive and trying 243 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:03.399 to be too optimistic mystic, but I like the position 244 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:06.159 that University of Utah is in. You know, they're smaller 245 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:08.480 schools that you have success, you have no chance at 246 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:11.159 keeping a player, And at the same time, like I 247 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:14.559 don't right now, I don't want to be I don't 248 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:16.600 want to get in a bidding war and you know, 249 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:20.039 pay a single player like a ton of money because 250 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:23.000 I think it's you know, coming from the NBA, Like 251 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:26.320 you see the problems that that can cause. But I think, 252 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:29.480 you know, like we're I don't want to say a 253 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:33.000 middle ground, but we've got you know, good resources and 254 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:36.480 you know, getting kids that you know, money is always 255 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:38.480 part of it. Like you'd be lying to yourself if 256 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.879 you said it wasn't about the money, but also you 257 00:11:40.919 --> 00:11:45.240 know kids that see the opportunity here. So yeah, like 258 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:48.240 it's uh, it's very it's transactional as the word a 259 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.799 lot of people in the NBA are they used now, 260 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:54.360 which is kind of a you know, I think college 261 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:59.000 is getting used to it and it's it's turning professional 262 00:11:59.120 --> 00:11:59.480 for sure. 263 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:03.559 So that leads me to some questions about your staff 264 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:05.840 and players out with our remaining time that I'll set 265 00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:08.960 you loose. And you know, there isn't a bigger indicator 266 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:12.240 as far as the changing landscape of collegiate athletics and 267 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:15.679 college hoops than the fact that everyone's hired a general manager. 268 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.879 And you know me, I've been around pro basketball my 269 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:22.039 entire life. It as a basketball sikoh myself. I knew 270 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:25.039 exactly who Wes Wilcox was when I heard the news, 271 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:27.320 and I know who Wes is. I don't know him personally, 272 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:30.919 but you know I was at the OKC Jazz game 273 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.000 with Scott Leyden recently and Scott he's been doing some 274 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:35.159 work for the King, so he's been working with Wes. 275 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:37.960 And he's a bright guy. I mean, you know this, 276 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:38.879 you've known him forever. 277 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:42.279 What ultimately led you to landing on Wes Wilcox as 278 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.120 your general manager? 279 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:47.840 Well, you know when I seriously started thinking of taking 280 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:51.320 the job, and I when I had the job, like 281 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:53.840 my mind and I told everybody like like it's my 282 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:58.639 mind just went so it just screamed a GM. And uh, 283 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:01.519 it's hard for a coach to negotiate the money with 284 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:03.519 the player and then try to coach him during the season. 285 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:06.679 But but a GM. And I and I wanted somebody. 286 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:09.759 I didn't want to a former coach, but I want 287 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:13.120 My mind just went to the NBA of somebody that's 288 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:15.600 that that's what they want to do, that's what they've done. 289 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:18.840 And you know Wes was you know he hired me 290 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:22.000 in Cleveland. Is the D League coach. I mean one 291 00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:25.080 of the guys that I had asked to ask, you know, 292 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:29.519 for advice, you know, different situations in my career. And 293 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:32.159 I when I first approached him about asking, you know, 294 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:35.799 any maybe younger guys he knew and you know, there 295 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:38.559 was a little interest there. Then it grew and I 296 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:42.320 didn't think I would get somebody as a seasoned and 297 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:45.159 as good as West, But yeah, that that that's it's 298 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:48.519 been huge and I think I think more colleges will 299 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:51.200 go that way. But I think there's the distinction between 300 00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:57.720 somebody who's done that, who's built rosters, balanced robsters, negotiated contracts. 301 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:02.320 It's a huge and it's made it that much easier 302 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:07.559 for us now. But and again, it's a great a partnership, 303 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:11.679 you know between coaching the pernoples, like you're together but separate, 304 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:13.960 like you know, throughout this whole year, that's what he's 305 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:15.840 going to be doing. Well, you know, I'll be coaching 306 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:19.279 the team. We'll talk basketball, Frost, but like that's that's 307 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:22.799 his job, and then I have my job. That makes sense. 308 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.879 It does, it does, and you know, like I said, dynamic, bright, 309 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.320 guy who's really good with numbers. 310 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:28.480 It was a great move. 311 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:31.600 So let's talk about your the first assistant coach you hired, 312 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:32.519 Raphael Chillius. 313 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:34.039 I had heard the name. 314 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:36.639 I've had several guests on over the course of the 315 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:38.600 past I guess a couple of months now since the 316 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:41.039 hiring came down, and this was another move that a 317 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:44.240 lot of people applauded. Tell me, why Al you landed on. 318 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:46.200 Coach Chill is your first assistant coach? 319 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:49.639 You know, you know, I got to meet Coach Chill 320 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:53.639 because we coached in the summer together. We took college teams, 321 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:56.840 so we spent time on the bus, became friends, and 322 00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:00.399 he was actually a he was a out for the 323 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:04.200 Grizzlies this year. I had an extensive college experience, but 324 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:08.799 first just a good person and a guy that just 325 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:11.360 lives it like he's one of the scouts, and you 326 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:13.559 know this spense that when the door is open to 327 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.639 the arena, he's waiting to get in, and he's down 328 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:17.960 there an hour and a half before, just watching everything. 329 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:20.960 And you know, it's funny. We were playing in Boston 330 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:23.000 and he was scouting when the rumors started about me, 331 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:24.679 and we went to dinner and he brought it up 332 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:28.559 and expressed interest in coming, which and at that time 333 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:31.559 I wasn't I don't think I was really deep into 334 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:35.879 thinking about taking it. But and that, you know, I'm 335 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:37.879 grateful that he did that he wanted to be here, 336 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:40.440 and you know that's that's the one thing I think 337 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:44.759 that that's hit me since you know, my staff has 338 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:46.639 been here and we talked about with the players, like, 339 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.840 you know, I had a good job, Wes definitely had 340 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:52.200 a good job. Chill, Raphael Chill had a great job, 341 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:55.159 and like, we're here because we want to be here, 342 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:59.279 not because we do, not because of money. But I 343 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:02.879 think it's rubbed up on a recruiting But yet Chill 344 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:07.080 coach Phil, who he's often everybody calls him, knows everybody 345 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:10.639 and could take multiple college jobs every year. So I'm 346 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:12.879 flattered and we're lucky to have him. 347 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:15.519 I wanted to ask you because you referenced meeting some 348 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:18.279 football coaches in your time down in Dallas, and I 349 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:21.559 understand a football coach here in Salt Lake City. You 350 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:24.480 hopped on the phone with a football coach here in 351 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:26.279 Salt Lake prior to taking the job, and he had 352 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:28.000 a conversation with coach Wit. 353 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:28.720 With Kyle Whittingham. 354 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:32.080 I wonder if you could provide a little context on 355 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:35.440 why you decided to talk to Kyle, what he told you, 356 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:37.679 and how that ultimately helped you decide you wanted to 357 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:40.639 move the family here and coach the utes. 358 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:45.039 You know, I you know, I've known Kyle, you know 359 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:47.720 since my freshman year when he when he worked here 360 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:51.759 with his dad, and obviously i've you know, watched or admired 361 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:55.679 what he's done and and mostly, you know, the opportunity 362 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:58.600 arises again, like I'd like to talk to him, because 363 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:00.960 that's what you know, we're trying to do on the 364 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:05.279 basketball side, replicate what he's done, because he's built an 365 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:08.200 amazing program and he's done a great job, and he's 366 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:11.599 you know, and I respect him. And that's why I 367 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:13.960 respect a lot of football guys because usually in football, 368 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:16.000 you start and you work your way up, you know, 369 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.480 the NBA, a lot of guys, you know, you skip steps. 370 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:23.599 But no, like he's I you know, every chance I get, 371 00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:27.559 he's a guy that I would approach with advice because 372 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:29.720 not only has he been and I've been in and out, 373 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:34.160 but he's been around it, and uh, like I said, 374 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:37.480 just admire what he's done, and and uh, you know 375 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:41.799 somebody that'll is every chance I get try to you know, 376 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:45.319 learn from and get some advice from, you know, the 377 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:48.400 challenges and obviously, you know, talking about the challenges and uh, 378 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:50.359 you know the good and bad of it all, which 379 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:53.279 which comes everywhere you go. But you know he's uh, 380 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:58.839 and again he's been here for what thirty years and 381 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:01.720 put the programs come a long way in thirty years. 382 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:05.480 It sure has al How does it land with you 383 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:08.279 when I say next year in marks a decade since 384 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:12.119 the last NC Double A Tournament appearance for Utah men's basketball. 385 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:16.319 You know it's it's uh, you know, I think all 386 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:18.519 of us got you know, we were spoiled and got 387 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:21.680 used to the success. There's no reason you know why 388 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:25.720 it can't be there, But you know, the I don't know. 389 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:29.400 I think it's and again, obviously that's something that you 390 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:32.279 want to do every year. But you know, just the 391 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:34.839 way Majeri's taught me and listening to a lot of 392 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:37.559 football guys like you know, like you just do your 393 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:40.279 do what you're supposed to do every day and that 394 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:42.960 will all take care of itself. I mean, obviously it's 395 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:45.559 something that we want and everybody else wants us to get. 396 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:48.079 And I think it just starts, you know, in the summer, 397 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:50.640 and just like what we do today, you know, instead 398 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:52.720 of talking about it every day, that's our goal that's 399 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:55.359 our goal. Whereas we have our you know, your goal 400 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:57.519 about our daily business and have our goals and accomplish 401 00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:59.920