Is Larry Krystkowiak the right hire to return Utah to prominence?

When Larry Krystkowiak stepped away from the head coaching job at his alma mater Montana to become a Milwaukee Bucks assistant in 2006, it appeared he was content to leave the college game behind.

Five years later, a job opened up that was attractive enough to him to lure him back.

Krystkowiak will be introduced as Utah's next head coach at a news conference on Monday afternoon. It's a job that's a good fit for him, according to Montana coach Wayne Tinkle, Krystkowiak's former college teammate and successor with the Grizzlies.

"I thought it was the perfect storm," Tinkle said by phone on Sunday. "He loves Salt Lake City, the team is transitioning into the Pac-10 and it was the chance to be a head coach again. I think it all came together for him at the right time, so I'm thrilled for him."

Krystkowiak inherits a program that has endured two straight losing seasons and has not been able to recapture the success of the Rick Majerus era. Neither Ray Giacoletti nor Jim Boylen have been able to fill the Huntsman Center or produce an annual NCAA tournament contender, putting pressure on athletic director Chris Hill to satisfy an impatient fan base with his third hire.

Whether Krystkowiak proves successful could depend on the recruiting connections and talent evaluation skills of the staff he hires.

Krystkowiak has a reputation as a tireless worker, an excellent offensive mind and a capable motivator, but he has never recruited at the major-conference level before and he has been out of college basketball for five years. With Utah in need of a massive talent upgrade to compete in the Pac-12 and the former staff pointing toward the Class of 2012 to get it done, it will be imperative for Krystkowiak to hire assistants who are well-connected on the West Coast.

"I wouldn't be concerned that he's been out of the college game because he's going to surround himself with great people and really get after it," Tinkle said. "I'm confident he'll put guys on his staff who have great connections out West. He'll do a great job identifying guys to work with and they'll get going first thing because they know that entering that league, they'll have to step up the talent level."

When Tinkle was on Krystkowiak's staff at Montana, the Grizzlies made back-to-back NCAA tournaments and pulled off a first-round upset over fifth-seeded Nevada in 2006. Tinkle raved about Krystkowiak's teaching skills, work ethic in the film room and ability to exploit offensive mismatches.

"He's a really good offensive-minded guy," Tinkle said. "He has extensive knowledge in trying to take advantage of mismatches to give his team the opportunity to get the highest percentage shots. I think he's going to impress people."

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