Giacoletti Bouncing Back Well With Gonzaga
My apologies for not posting for a few days; I was out of town and away from my computer. And just as I sat down this morning to catch up with the Utes a little bit, the phone starts to ring.
On the other end?
It's Ray Giacoletti.
The former head coach is an assistant at Gonzaga now, and he was returning my call from last week or so, when I finally succeeded in remembering to give him a jingle to see how everything is going. Couldn't be too bad, right? The Zags are 7-1 and ranked 17th in the AP Top 25, coming off an impressive road sweep of St. Joseph's and UConn only a week after playing in the Great Alaska Shootout.
Indeed, the Zags are pretty encouraged, Giacoletti said, especially since they have compiled their record without injured forward Josh Heytvelt (yes, the 'shroom dude) and guard Stephen Gray. Both of those players are expected back in the next couple of weeks, though, meaning the Utes should really have their hands full when they meet the Zags in Spokane on New Year's Eve.
Speaking of the Utes, Giacoletti was encouraged to hear they had come back to beat UC Irvine over the weekend and said he's hoping they do well this year -- even after he endured a difficult firing after last season.
"I'm pulling for them," he said.
It's not hard to imagine he really meant it, too. For as difficult a time as Giacoletti had in harnessing talent in his time with the Utes, he was as genuine and down-to-earth as any coach in the business. Guy like that deserves to land on his feet, even if he was in over his head a little bit with the Utes.
On the other end?
It's Ray Giacoletti.
The former head coach is an assistant at Gonzaga now, and he was returning my call from last week or so, when I finally succeeded in remembering to give him a jingle to see how everything is going. Couldn't be too bad, right? The Zags are 7-1 and ranked 17th in the AP Top 25, coming off an impressive road sweep of St. Joseph's and UConn only a week after playing in the Great Alaska Shootout.
Indeed, the Zags are pretty encouraged, Giacoletti said, especially since they have compiled their record without injured forward Josh Heytvelt (yes, the 'shroom dude) and guard Stephen Gray. Both of those players are expected back in the next couple of weeks, though, meaning the Utes should really have their hands full when they meet the Zags in Spokane on New Year's Eve.
Speaking of the Utes, Giacoletti was encouraged to hear they had come back to beat UC Irvine over the weekend and said he's hoping they do well this year -- even after he endured a difficult firing after last season.
"I'm pulling for them," he said.
It's not hard to imagine he really meant it, too. For as difficult a time as Giacoletti had in harnessing talent in his time with the Utes, he was as genuine and down-to-earth as any coach in the business. Guy like that deserves to land on his feet, even if he was in over his head a little bit with the Utes.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 9:49 AM |
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