Utah Utes basketball: U. hires assistant coach

The University of Utah has filled its other assistant basketball coaching position with the hiring of Barret Peery.

Peery is a native Utahn who has been the head coach at College of Southern Idaho for the past three years, where he compiled an 85-19 record. This past year, CSI was ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time in 15 years and had a 26-game winning streak while going 30-2.

"It's big for us to get a head coach, who's also a Utah guy and understands the area," said coach Utah head coach Jim Boylen. "He's passionate about coming here."

Peery grew up in Payson and played for Snow College and Southern Utah. Besides coaching at CSI, he has had coaching stops at Snow, Utah Valley, Portland State and SUU.

"I'm ecstatic about working with coach Boylen," Peery said. "I think he's doing a fantastic job and it will be a great opportunity for me to learn and grow.I really believe in coach Boylen."

Last month, Utah hired Stan Johnson, who also played at Southern Utah and in fact was recruited by Peery when he was an assistant coach there.