Head coach Craig Smith was ultimately fired as the Runnin' Utes head coach that morning, leaving Madsen, the rest of the players and coaching staff to pick up the pieces. “It was the last thing I expected,” Madsen said. “I just felt a lot of emotions this week, and just obviously very sad the first day it happened, seeing Coach Smith.

The University of Utah's decision to part ways with head basketball coach Craig Smith has resulted in an ironic turn of events. Josh Eilert, who was hired as an assistant under Smith last June, will now step in as interim head coach.

SALT LAKE CITY — Former West Virginia men’s basketball interim coach Josh Eilert is earning a reputation as the go-to replacement when a college program fires its coach.