Former Utah head coach Craig Smith has become a frequent observer at Arizona basketball practices but will not be joining the staff, despite a report indicating otherwise.
Former Gonzaga standout Kevin Pangos is still to be the Wildcats' next assistant coach, replacing Ken Nakagawa, who left for the G League's Salt Lake Stars last month. A Canadian native, Pangos has secured a work visa but is still going through the UA hiring process before his addition becomes official.
After moving up from head coaching jobs at South Dakota to Utah State and then Utah, Smith was fired toward the end of the 2024-25 season, when the Utes were struggling during their first season in the Big 12. He is believed to be looking to get back into coaching.
Utah head coach Craig Smith urges on his Utes in the second half of their Pac-12 game against Arizona at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 16, 2023.
Smith has been in and out of Tucson during the preseason, the Star has learned, watching practices around the Red-Blue Showcase, and is expected to return occasionally as the season goes on. (Practices are normally closed to media).
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Meanwhile, the Basketball Hall of Fame announced it would honor Bill Walton during UA's Nov. 2 home opener against UCLA, as it did last season when the Wildcats and the Bruins met in Los Angeles.
Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe
Bruce Pascoe
Reporter
