Coach Jim Boylen has said all along that he wanted to hire assistant coaches who desperately wanted to join the Utes -- not guys who didn't share his passion for trying to rebuild the program or felt entitled to the job.

And judging by one phone call, I'd say Stan Johnson fits that description.

Boylen hired Johnson today, and Johnson spent several minutes telling me how much loves the state and how much of a hard time he gets from his friends in California because of it. But he said he grew up a rabid Utah fan -- the Taylorsville High graduate was friends with Murray's Britton and Jeff Johnsen, he said -- and longs for the opportunity to help build the Utes into a college basketball power again.

"I've been around Utah basketball when it was at its peak," he said. "I know what's possible there. Coach Boylen has a great vision, great passion, and I myself am very passionate about the state. We can get Utah basketball to what it's capable of, not only competing for conference titles but nationally, doing some great things."

The 29-year-old Johnson grew up cheering for the Utes, and graduated from Taylorsville High School in 1998 -- the same year the Utes played in the championship game of the NCAA Tournament.

"I was probably never good enough to play there," Johnson said. "But I know I'm good enough as a coach now to come back and help them."