Now that the Utes have released their non-conference schedule for next season, maybe we should aggravate the coaches by noting right off the top that they again will be opening with an exhibition game against a Division II team.

Nah … let's not bust their chops over that one, again.

After all, the Utes won the Mountain West Conference tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years in no small part because of the tough non-conference schedule they played last season, and coach Jim Boylen clearly has not changed his philosophy. Among the teams the Utes will meet next season are Michigan, Oklahoma and Utah State — three fellow NCAA Tournament entrants last season, who will visit the Huntsman Center — as well as LSU and possibly Bradley, Illinois or Oklahoma State.

Nothing wrong with that, at all.

“Our philosophy from day one has been anyone, anytime, anywhere,” Boylen said in a statement. “We have stayed true to our vision and goal of building a Top 25 national program by scheduling great teams from the top conferences around the country. I think this is another non-conference schedule that our fans, players and prospects can get excited about. These games will test us and prepare us to make another strong run in the Mountain West Conference.”

Boylen believes the Utes could wind up playing just as tough as schedule as they did last season, when their schedule wound up ranked 23rd in the nation, according to CollegeRPI.com — especially if they wind up meeting Illinois, in addition to the others.

The Utes will play their first five games at home, including the first two games of the Las Vegas Invitational against Southern and Seattle — much the way they played UW Green Bay in the first round of the Glenn Wilkes Classic at home last season, before traveling to Florida. Then, they travel to Las Vegas for the final two games of that tournament, against either Bradley, Illinois or OSU, before finally getting a true road game at Weber State.

Then, it's four more home games — including Michigan and Oklahoma on Dec. 9 and 12 — before a trip to challenge former assistant Marty Wilson and his Pepperdine Waves (the Utes also will meet former assistant Mike Score — no relation to the Flock of Seagulls founder, I'm sure — when the beloved Idaho Vandals visit for the official season opener Nov. 13) and a trip to LSU sandwiched around a home game against Texas-San Antonio.

All in all, it appears to be a challenging yet smart way to try to mold a team that will feature five new players and a returning LDS Church missionary trying to replace almost 85 percent of its scoring and 60 percent of its rebounding from the group that finished 24-10 last season. Plus, it's good for the fans, who will get two more home games in their season-ticket packages, for the same price as last season.

Oh, and that exhibition opener on Nov. 7?

For the record, it's against Findlay, the reigning Division II national champion that won all of its 36 games last season.

Coach Jim Boylen is enjoying his first family vacation in four years, with his wife and children in beautiful San Diego.

How do we know?

He's telling us about it on Twitter.

Indeed, the coach has started using the latest hot social-networking site to keep fans apprised of what's happening in his program and no doubt expand his appeal among potential recruits. He's not the first coach to use it, even at the U. — football coach Kyle Whittingham is on there, too, with 280 followers at the moment, compared to 76 for Boylen.

But Boylen just fired it up a few days ago — and couldn't use the “Jimmy Ball” moniker he wanted. Somebody else named Jim Ball had already claimed it. “Wait until I get ahold of that guy,” Boylen joked. In a tweet, of course.

Now that coach Jim Boylen has signed his lucrative new contract, he has a little more ammunition with which to fight off in recruiting the claim that “he's not going to be there” — something he has encountered quite a bit.

Of course, it's not necessarily true.

Although my understanding is that the buyout in the first couple of years of the contract is quite substantial — haven't seen the actual contract yet, though — the fact of the matter is that buyout or no buyout, if the right job comes along for the right money, coaches will leave. That's just the way of the world.

That said, signing a new deal shows a reciprocal commitment between Boylen and the university that can only be encouraging for prospective players. Without it, recruits might have fairly wondered if the school had much faith in Boylen, after such a strong season — and Boylen might have been more active in seeking other opportunities.

In fact, it definitely helped Boylen to have had Arizona and Memphis sniffing around at the end of last season, and surely athletic director Chris Hill knew that if Xavier's Sean Miller hadn't finally taken the Arizona job, Boylen might well have been the one signing a massive contract with the Wildcats.

And nobody around here wanted that.

Even in a troubled economy, rebuilding a major college basketball program is lucrative work.

Having guided the Utah Utes back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years, men's coach Jim Boylen has been rewarded with a new five-year contract through the 2014 season worth at least $850,000 annually, the university announced today. That's about a 55 percent increase from his original five-year deal — not counting bonuses that could boost his compensation past $1 million a year — even as other members of the athletic department have endured cutbacks and braced for possible layoffs.

Just last week, in fact, athletic director Chris Hill said in a published report that "we've pretty much told everybody, 'Hey, there's no budget increases this year, no salary increases.'” He also speculated that lay-offs could come next year.

At the same time, the reality of hyper-competitive major college sports is that schools must pay top coaches well, or risk losing them.

Both Arizona and Memphis made inquiries about hiring Boylen after last season, when the Utes finished 24-10, won the Mountain West Conference tournament after sharing the regular-season title, and reached the NCAA Tournament. The Utes also have made significant academic progress under Boylen, after having been in jeopardy of being sanctioned under an NCAA initiative designed to improve classroom performance.

“We are excited about the direction our basketball program is going under Jim and are confident that the best is yet to come,” Hill said in a statement. “Jim has shown a great deal of commitment and loyalty to this program and university. It was important to retain Jim not only for his coaching and recruiting skills, which are excellent, but for his tireless promoting of his sport and his commitment to his team’s academics.”

The new contract keeps Boylen among the highest-paid coaches in the Mountain West. New Mexico's Steve Alford has a deal — automatically extended by one year as a bonus for tying with the Utes and Brigham Young for the regular-season league title — worth more than $1 million annually.

According to the university, Boylen's base salary will be $200,000 per year, up from $180,000 in his original contract. The other $650,000 comes as compensation for radio and television appearances, speaking engagements and public appearances, summer camps and apparel and shoe contracts with adidas.

Boylen earned $550,000 annually in his previous contract, not including bonuses and other benefits.

His original deal also included thousands of dollars worth of travel and moving expenses, an education fund for his children, football and basketball season tickets, a country-club membership and the use of a cell phone and a car. The university did not specify whether or how many of those perks remain in the new contract, but in the realm of coaching contract they are fairly standard benefits that probably are still mostly included.

“I have a passion and enthusiasm for University of Utah basketball and I am excited for what the future holds,” Boylen said in a statement. “I am committed to taking this program to the highest level and this contract signifies the university’s belief in me. When I took this job, I promised conference championships, national rankings, NCAA Tournament invitations and a return to national prominence. We are on our way, having accomplished the first three goals this past season, but we are nowhere near satisfied. We are going to continue to build this program and make our community proud.”

Looks like coach Jim Boylen might be getting close to hauling in another top prospect for the Utes.

According to an interesting article in the Las Vegas Sun, the Utes are the favorites to land Godwin Okonji, a 6-foot-9 forward at Findlay College Prep, the heralded basketball prep school in suburban Las Vegas whose team went undefeated last season and beat famed Oak Hill Academy in the first ESPN High School Invitational.

Boylen “has been a regular at the Henderson International School, with which Findlay is affiliated,” the article said, “and he has beamed about Okonji’s tremendous upside.”

A native of Nigeria, Okonji averaged 6.2 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Pilots as a junior last season and wants to be a philanthropist who can save the world, according to a video profile of the blossoming star.

Recruiting services say that several top schools in the Pac-10 Conference are interested in him, too.

Rick Shoff buried a crucial three-pointer to help Salt Lake Community College mount a spectacular comeback and win the national junior-college championship last season, and he soon will be bringing his skills to the Utes.

The 6-foot-3 guard from American Fork (and younger brother of former Brigham Young player Jake Shoff) is expected to join the Utes as a walk-on next season, when he figures to be fully recovered from the knee injury that forced him to work his way back into shape as last season progressed. Still, Shoff started 34 games for the 31-6 Bruins, averaging 7.8 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 45.1 percent from the floor and 35.8 percent from three-point range.

The Utes confirmed that they have been recruiting Shoff, but under recruiting rules, they are not allowed to comment on any player until he signs a letter of intent or joins the team.