Utah basketball coach Jim Boylen, who just completed his third season with the Utes, has been identified as a candidate for the University of Iowa coaching job.

Boylen, when reached Wednesday, wouldn't comment on the position, stating he was "thankful to be the coach at Utah."

"I'm excited with what we are building and trying to recruit point guards and shooters now," he said.

Boylen, whose Utes finished the season 14-17 in his third season as head coach, signed a five-year contract in May that pays him $850,000 annually, with the possibility of it increasing to $1 million with incentives.

Boylen went 42-25 in his first two season and led the Utes to the MWC tournament title and a share of the regular-season title last year.

Iowa director of athletics Gary Barta announced last week that Todd Lickliter wouldn't be retained after three losing seasons, including a 10-22 mark in 2009-10.

Both Memphis and Arizona made inquiries into hiring Boylen last year, before he was rewarded the new contract which represented a 55-percent increase from his original five-year deal which paid him $550,000 annually.

Utah athletic director Chris Hill refused to comment on the situation, stating he "never discusses job searches."

If Boylen terminates his contract voluntarily in the first or second year of the contract, he must pay the university a fixed sum of $750,000.