This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Who is the most popular, who should be the most popular, active coach working among the major sports at the higher levels in the state of Utah? Of all the fan bases, which group is most satisfied, should be most satisfied, with and least likely to pick up torches and pitch forks and march in protest against or anonymously and cowardly slam computer keyboards with aggressive complaints about their head coach?

What follows is a ranking, worst to first, based on informal interaction with those fans (there's nothing scientific about the sampling), and a bit of a personal view. See if you agree:

10. Tim Duryea, Utah State basketball

Aggies basketball is not what it used to be, nor is the vibe at the Spectrum, one of college basketball's formerly great atmospheres. The descent started before Duryea took over for the retiring Stew Morrill two seasons ago. He is 30-32, 14-22 in the Mountain West, so far, with no invitations to the NCAA Tournament. A proud basketball tradition is fading, and the USU fan base is growing restless with the lack of progress.

9. Matt Wells, Utah State football

Not so long ago, Wells was the bell of the ball in Logan, a MWC coach of the year. Having taken over for Gary Andersen, he kept the popular coach's advancements on the rise, going 19-9 over his first two seasons. And then … the wheels started loosening with seasons of 6-7 and 3-9. There was a time when those numbers would have been fully acceptable, a step up from the Aggies' past. Not anymore. Troubles within the program — such as a former linebacker who has been accused of sexual assault by seven different women while he was in the program and who now is awaiting trial — haven't helped USU's standing.

8. Mike Petke, Real Salt Lake

There should be a yet-to-be-determined aspect to Petke's position here. He's only managed eight games for RSL so far. But his arrival hasn't exactly lifted the club to new heights. RSL did win their first two games with Petke, but results in subsequent weeks have been abysmal, including lopsided losses in recent weeks before last Wednesday's turnaround victory over NYCFC. Injuries have played a role, and adjustments, too, but … all those fans who so devoutly support this team, who bang their drums and chant through games must be wondering what the longterm arc will be.

7. Dave Rose, BYU basketball

Rose has won a zillion games at BYU, and that strangely works against him, the reason being he doesn't win a lot of games when it matters most. His overall record is stellar, highlighted by the Jimmer years, when BYU not only qualified for the NCAA Tournament, but actually saw modest success there. Not recently. Since the Cougars entered the West Coast Conference, they've never won the league's regular-season title, nor its tournament. And they haven't danced the past two years. Making matters worse is a style of play that would have been wildly popular had better ultimate results been achieved. But the lack of defense and an undisciplined offense have some wondering if a lagging Jimmer-effect has hurt BYU basketball. Perhaps the addition of defensive-minded assistant Heath Schroyer will help.

6. Larry Krystkowiak, Utah basketball

Krystkowiak did a great job pulling the Utes out of the Jim Boylen crater. After the new guy was hired, Utah's progression was clear — six wins, 15 wins, 21 wins, 26 wins, 27 wins. Following Jakob Poeltl's departure, the Utes dropped down a notch, to 20 wins. No big thing, really; it could be a temporary lull. One negative is the number of transfers by players who were unhappy playing for the coach. This next season will be a significant one in bumping the program forward. Still, the Utes most definitely are better with Krystkowiak than they would be without him.

5. Bill Kinneberg, Utah baseball

Kinneberg was the first Ute men's coach to win a Pac-12 title, pulling a worst-to-first last year that really has no comparision in Utah's recent athletic history. Nothing more needs to be said.

4. Randy Rahe, Weber State basketball

Everybody knows the guy who brought Damian Lillard to Weber, helping his development through the early stages into one of the country's best point guards — and forming his foundation as one of the NBA's best players — is a darn fine coach. The winningest coach ever at Weber and the Big Sky Conference's career wins leader has been named league coach of the year a record four times. Folks in Ogden love him. And they should.

3. Kalani Sitake, BYU football

In just over a year, Sitake took the weird out of Cougar football, replacing it with warmth. There's a lot of work left to do, but the fans have bought into the coach and the methodology he is using to take the program higher than where Bronco Mendenhall left it. He had nine wins in his first season against four losses. Where BYU goes from here will be an interesting watch. But as long as enough winning is done, and as long as Sitake wraps his big arms not just around his players, but also the fans, most of them will hold him in high regard.

2. Kyle Whittingham, Utah football

There are those who think Whittingham (104-50), despite his successful move of the Utes from the Mountain West to the Pac-12, hasn't achieved enough. Not so. He's done a terrific job. The records over that span have gone from 8-5 to 5-7 to 5-7 to 9-4 to 10-3 to 9-4. That's a solid transition. Still, the combination of November collapses over the past two seasons and the lack of an effective, consistent passing attack has thrown a snagging anchor overboard, in the minds of a few. Otherwise, Whittingham's cruise to a coronation as king of the state's coaching hill would have been seamless and smooth.

1. Quin Snyder, Utah Jazz

He has guided the state's highest profile team through its ascent in the NBA's Western Conference in a remarkably consistent manner, despite a ridiculous amount of adversity over the past two seasons. Snyder likely won't get the award, but he should be the league's coach of the year, winning 51 games with a team that might have won at least five more had it not suffered so many injuries and might have lost at least five more had Snyder not steadied the effort. His development of younger players has been one the team's biggest successes. If the Jazz re-sign Gordon Hayward, the future is bright. Rudy Gobert said he envisions the team winning 60 games next season. Snyder signed a five-year contract extension, which is fortunate for a club that needs him. And the fans are fully aware.

GORDON MONSON hosts "The Big Show" with Spence Checketts weekdays from 3-7 p.m. on 97.5 FM and 1280 AM The Zone. Twitter: @GordonMonson.