Illinois Basketball: Five Head Coach Candidates to Replace John Groce

No. 4 Larry Krystkowiak

Since Krystkowiak took the helm of Utah four seasons ago, the Utes have seen postseason play every year.  For the past two years, Krystkowiak has guided Utah to the NCAA Tournament advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2015 and the second round last year.  This year the Utes are 15-6 overall and 6-3 in Pac 12 play and flirting with another trip to the Big Dance.

The Utes have a very tough game at Oregon this Thursday but otherwise, should win out the rest of its season leading to 21 wins going into the conference tournament.  That might be enough for the selection committee, but the Pac 12 is not a strong conference this year (after Oregon, UCLA, and Arizona) so some are thinking Utah would need another win or two in the conference tournament to advance.  Or perhaps if they beat Oregon this Thursday, that elusive signature win would get their ticket punched.

Krystkowiak also created a winning culture at Montana where he coached the Grizzlies to two straight NCAA tournaments in 2005 (we all remember that year of course) and 2006.  Between Montana and Utah, Krystkowiak coached professionally, both as an assistant and temporarily as a head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.  He was known for coaching bigs.

Krystkowiak also played professionally for about 10 years. At 6-foot-9 he was a power forward.  Some of you more astute observers of the game might remember that he played for the Bulls during the 1995 season.

Krystkowiak had a top 40 recruiting class in 2014 but nothing special otherwise.  This tells me that, like Archie Miller, Krystkowiak is a coach first.  For crying out loud, he took Montana to the tournament two years straight and appears to be on track for a third year at Utah.  No five-star players, and very few four-stars, but still has met with great success.

One problem Illinois has had for years, even dating back to the 2005 tournament team, is attracting quality big men.  I know that will change next year with Jeremiah Tilmon coming in, and that we always seem to have one decent big on the team (thinking Meyers Leonard, Nnanna Egwu, Maverick Morgan) but Illinois struggles to secure the commitment of four-star power forwards.

Krystkowiak with his personal experience and emphasis on coaching those types of players could change all of that.  Also, like Miller, I think his current location makes recruiting all that much harder. I would love to see how well he could recruit with the U of I behind him.

This Thursday will be a good chance to see Krystkowiak coach on the road against one of the best teams in the country.  Also, check them out on March 2 at home against Cal.  And that conveniently leads me to my next coach.