Arizona basketball coach Tommy Lloyd reacts to Utah firing Craig Smith

Smith’s two sons ― Landon and Brady Smith ― are still with the Utah basketball team. Landon is Utah’s director of administration and basketball operations, while Brady is a sophomore walk-on transfer from Salt Lake Community College.

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd praised both of Craig Smith’s sons for handling their father’s firing well following the Wildcats’ 83-66 win over the Utes.

“I want to acknowledge two guys today, Brady and Landon Smith,” Lloyd said following Thursday’s game. “They are Craig’s kids. One’s the director of operations; the other’s a walk-on. Both of those kids showed up today, which is pretty amazing. I know this is a business, and it’s a hard business, and I get all those things, but we all have families. We all have kids, and for his kids to show up today

‘…Craig, I talked to him today, and had not one bad word to say, straight class. For his boys to show up today, with their teammates, says something. This stuff’s hard, what we go through, even when it’s going good, it’s hard.”

The university fired Craig Smith on Monday following a 76-72 loss to UCF on Sunday. The loss dropped the Utes to 15-12 on the season and 7-9 in Big 12 play. Utah went 65-62 in four seasons under Craig Smith and never reached the NCAA Tournament.

Utah hired Craig Smith in 2021 following a successful three-year run as the coach for Utah State. However, Craig Smith could never capture the magic with the Utes, ultimately leading to his firing. Lloyd can sympathize with it in a high-pressure role as a coach.

“We got to know each other coaching against each other in the Pac-12, and we kind of came into the league together,” Lloyd said. “Do Craig and I talk on the phone a lot? No. Do we completely understand what everybody goes through all the time? Yes. So you develop a brotherhood.

“There’s not too many people that know what your life’s really like, and the stress you feel and the pressure that’s on you, and trying to figure out your team and everything comes with it. It was just one guy calling another guy because he respects him, and I just wanted him to know that, ‘hey, he’s a great dude, and sorry that that happened, and I hope he and his family are OK.”