Utah Utes basketball: Assistant coach heads to Utah State

Utah State University basketball coach Stew Morrill wanted to get a new assistant coach in place before leaving for meetings at the Final Four this weekend.

The veteran coach got his wish.

University of Utah assistant Chris Jones has accepted the position to replace Don Verlin, who accepted the head coaching position at the University of Idaho last week.

Jones confirmed Monday afternoon that he was leaving for Utah State.

"It's an opportunity to go and work for a guy who's been an unbelievable coach," Jones said of USU coach Stew Morrill. "It's an opportunity for me to go and learn in a different system."

Jones, who played at Utah and has been on the Ute basketball staff for six years overall, has been an assistant coach since the 2006-07 season.

Jones stressed that he wasn't leaving because of any unhappiness working for coach Jim Boylen or because of money issues.

"I haven't been around a better coach than coach Boylen," he said. "The Utah basketball program is in tremendous hands."

Jones joined the Utah staff for his second stint in 2004-05 as the director of basketball operations. He recruits heavily for the Runnin' Utes in-state and in the Western region.

Verlin was Morrill's assistant for a total of 15 years with the last 10 years at Utah State.