The timing of Stan Heath's firing as Arkansas' coach hardly helps endorse Utah's choice of Michigan State assistant Jim Boylen. Yet if hiring one of Izzo's helpers is no guarantee of long-term success, his program is still the best thing going these days in terms of preparing people to run their own operations.
As Mark Montgomery, another MSU assistant, said Monday, "We're head coaches in waiting."
Boylen's wait is over, after only two years in college basketball since he left the NBA, and so is Utah's latest coaching search. In the wake of my suggestion that Ute athletic director Chris Hill needed to "win the press conference" - that's one of his expressions - with an attention-getting hire this time, he either failed to do so or merely resisted.
But other than landing a proven head coach with a recognizable name (New Mexico's hiring of Steve Alford comes to mind), Hill could not have done better than by plucking another branch of the Izzo tree. If you want an assistant who's ready for more responsibility after working for a coach who relies on his staff, Izzo is it.
As much as I value head coaching experience and as much confidence as I would have in Westminster College coach Tommy Connor, even coming from the NAIA level, Boylen's combination of having worked in the NBA and at Michigan State was obviously tough to beat.
"When you come to work here, you'd better be ready to wear a lot of hats," said another MSU assistant, Dwayne Stephens. "Coach Izzo is going to get on your butt if you're not doing those other things. He wants you to improve in every area."
Izzo is known for promoting his guys for job openings, and they do succeed. While he's out of work at the moment - after taking Arkansas to the NCAA Tournament this month - Heath thrived at Kent State before joining the Razorbacks. Tom Crean has built Marquette into a consistent program, even without Dwyane Wade. Stan Joplin took Toledo to the NIT this year. Doug Wojcik has lifted Tulsa from 9-20 to 20-11 in two seasons since leaving Michigan State, where Boylen replaced him.
"You definitely see the Izzo influence on every one of his coaches out there," another former assistant, Dayton coach Brian Gregory, recently told the Detroit News. "The core stuff, the things you believe in, they're all consistent from Michigan State."
Having worked for Izzo for only two seasons himself, Wojcik called Izzo "an unbelievable role model . . . like a big brother."
There's nothing glamorous about the Izzo imprint - merely stuff like defense, rebounding and hard work, not that any of those qualities were in abundance at Utah this past season. Yet what's really intriguing about Boylen, beyond the Spartan connection, is his 13-year NBA background. He knows how to prepare for opponents, and he understands the game on both ends of the floor. Montgomery labeled him "an offensive-minded coach" and Stephens added, "I always say that Jim is probably right up there with Crean and coach Izzo when it comes to knowledge of the game."
One of Boylen's strengths, going back to when he was an MSU graduate assistant and Montgomery was playing for the Spartans, is working with players individually. That's much of what he did in the NBA - think he can help Luke Nevill at all? - and in his first season back at Michigan State, when he was adjusting to college basketball again.
Players are comfortable around Boylen, and he coaches emotionally. That trait resurfaced with Izzo's encouragement, after all those years in the NBA where, as Stephens said, "Guys look at you like you're crazy if you raise your voice."
Boylen's true personality soon emerged, and the same will happen with the Utes. Which brings us to that press conference.
At MSU, they tell a story about the recent team awards banquet, which lasts so long that the assistant coaches try to keep their presentations short. Not Boylen. While giving the most inspirational player award to guard Travis Walton, Boylen spoke passionately for nearly 25 minutes.
More of the same fervor is expected when Boylen is introduced today at the Huntsman Center. "I wish I could be at that press conference," Montgomery said, with a knowing chuckle.
Who knows? Hill may win that thing, after all.
---
* KURT KRAGTHORPE can be reached at kkragthorpe@sltrib.com. To write a letter about this or any sports topic, send an e-mail to sportseditor@sltrib.com.
