Simple plan for U.: Just win, baby

Ray Giacoletti said farewell to the University of Utah Friday, in much the way he began. He entered the hastily assembled press conference unassumingly, wearing an open-collar shirt and sweater. There were no gag lines about white players on his team, no mention of where to get a good linguine con vongole, no references to Cindy Crawford or Ashley Judd.

In other words, there was no Rick Majerus. Just "Ray" as he commonly referred to himself when returning phone calls. A regular guy.

Trouble is, the University of Utah wants more than regular guys to coach its major teams. It wants rising stars, maybe even superstars. It wants Urban Meyer and Majerus, or some semblance. The U. can do without Majerus' health problems and berating of players, but the other stuff it loves: the championships, national rankings and all that goes with them.

"I'm a stand-up guy, I've done it all my life, and I understand how it works," said Giacoletti. "I had a job to do and didn't get it done."

So for the second time in three years, the Ute basketball coach has resigned before season's end. Not that Giacoletti had much choice. Though nobody was leaking details, it was obvious he isn't leaving willingly. Asked if he was told to resign, he began saying he met with athletic director Chris Hill but then said he wasn't going to discuss it further.

As for whether it was his own decision he said, "Yeah ... I made the decision."

Let's assume he got some help from Hill, who declined to elaborate, too.

So the Utes are again looking for a new coach. Which raises the obvious question: What do they expect from their coaches? Large crowds, conference championships, NCAA Tournament bids and Top 25 rankings, of course.

Otherwise, Giacoletti wouldn't be gone after just three years.

Since when did Utah get to be so big it fires coaches after not three, but just two bad seasons?

For his part, Hill deflected questions about expectations.

Asked specifically if he thinks his team should be ranked and winning championships, he replied, "We think that we can be in the top part of our league and win our fair share of championships and from time to time do some good, positive damage in post-season play."

From time to time?

They were in the Sweet 16 just two years ago.