Steve Grabowski and Curran Walsh have been added to Craig Smith’s basketball staff at Utah State. Grabowski joins the Aggies from the University of North Dakota, while Walsh heads east from Loyola Marymount University.
“We are thrilled to welcome Steve to the Aggies family,” Smith said. “I coached Steve, and it’s been very rewarding to see all of his success throughout the years, including being one of three finalists for the head coaching position at the University of North Dakota. Steve is an absolute workhorse and he’s experienced about every role on a coaching staff, including being a director of basketball operations. He’s a great coach, has connections around the country, and above all, has always been about helping young men grow and develop as people.”
Grabowski was a member of the UND staff for seven years, beginning as the director of operations, before moving into an assistant coaching role for the next five. With Grabowski on staff, the Fighting Hawks advanced to the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance during the 2016-17 season, capturing both the Big Sky regular season and tournament championship. The men’s basketball team was also the best among UND men’s programs, leading the Fighting Hawks in community service hours each of the last three years.
Prior to UND, Grabowski was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Minot State University, in Minot, N.D. During his seven years on the bench with the Beavers, Minot State advanced to a pair of NAIA Division II National Tournament appearances, captured a Dakota Athletic Conference regular season championship and two tournament championships.
“To say I am excited would be an understatement,” Grabowski said. “I have known Coach Smith for a long time now and being able to work for someone that I respect, is a proven winner, and can learn from makes this such a special opportunity. I have seen the support the fans and community of Logan have for Aggie basketball and it is truly something special. I can’t wait to get to work with our amazing staff and players to help continue on with the rich tradition of Aggie basketball.
Grabowski graduated from Minot State in 2005 with a degree in physical education, following a four-year playing career with the Beavers.
“We are thrilled to announce that Curran Walsh will be joining the Aggies,” Smith said. “Curran is a young, rising star in our profession. He’s highly intelligent, very motivated, possess great energy, and above all, is always about the team. He will make an immediate positive impact on our program.”
During his two years with the Lions, Walsh served as a graduate assistant, helping LMU from 11 victories during the 2017-18 season to 22 a season ago, marking the most wins since the 1989-90 season. Walsh covered a variety of tasks at Loyola Marymount, assisting with film work, scouting, scheduling and logistics.
Walsh already has a great deal of player development experience, helping in the player development process of many NBA players, including Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo, Jaylen Brown, Tony Snell and Joakim Noah, while working with Chris Johnson hoops. During the 2016-17 season, Walsh was an assistant coach for the Varsity boy’s basketball team at St. Anthony High School, culminating in a school-record 30 wins and the city’s first ever IHSA State Basketball Championship.
“I am grateful and honored to be joining Coach Smith’s staff at Utah State University,” Walsh said. “Coach Smith’s ability to build programs, instill a winning culture, and mold young men is unparalleled. I’m thrilled to be a part of the Logan community, whose support and energy for Aggie basketball has created one of the best atmospheres in college basketball. I’m proud to be a part of Utah State University’s rich tradition and compete in the Mountain West. Most importantly, I’m ready to get to work with our staff and players to continue to build a program Aggie Nation can be proud of.”
Walsh is a native of Effingham, Illinois, and graduated with a B.S. in business administration from Lindenwood University-Belleville in 2016. Walsh played men’s basketball for the Lynx all four years and earned academic all-conference honors in 2015 and 2016. Walsh also recently completed a master’s degree in educational studies from Loyola Marymount.
