Busting Brackets
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Mountain West Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: San Diego State Alumni Kawhi Leonard participates in his jersey retirement ceremony with former college coach Steve Fisher during half time of the game against the San Diego State Aztecs and the Utah State Aggies at Viejas Arena on February 01, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: San Diego State Alumni Kawhi Leonard participates in his jersey retirement ceremony with former college coach Steve Fisher during half time of the game against the San Diego State Aztecs and the Utah State Aggies at Viejas Arena on February 01, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images) /
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ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – FEBRUARY 29: Head coach Craig Smith of the Utah State Aggies (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – FEBRUARY 29: Head coach Craig Smith of the Utah State Aggies (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

7. Craig Smith – Utah State (2018-2020)

Smith was largely unheralded as he rose through the coaching ranks, mostly known for spending time at Nebraska and other schools under Tim Miles. He got his head coaching career going at the D1 level with South Dakota, leading them to 26 wins in 2018. A few weeks later, he took the Utah State job, inheriting an Aggies program that had been trending in the wrong direction the last few seasons.

With Smith on board, that trend was immediately reversed. Smith has revolutionized this program in just two seasons, with a 54-15 record and a pair of MWC Tournament championships. Utah State tied atop the conference standings in this first season and upset powerhouse San Diego State to win the crown this past season.

Utah State joined the Mountain West in 2013, but it wasn’t until Smith was hired that the Aggies have really shined in their new league. Smith helped shape this successful roster and has really changed things for this program already. Had this article come out a few years later, it’s very likely that Smith would have been much higher up, as he has this program destined for big things in the future.