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With Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett now out of the picture for the Utah Utes, their search for a new basketball coach has zeroed in on New Jersey Nets' assistant coach Larry Krystkowiak and former Alabama coach Mark Gottfried as the finalists, and a decision could come this weekend, a source close to the situation has told The Salt Lake Tribune.

Utah athletic director Chris Hill has said repeatedly that he has no time line for announcing a hiring.

Krystkowiak turned down the Utes before, taking a position with the Milwaukee Bucks instead.

He lasted just one season before he was fired. However, he had more success on the collegiate level, leading Montana to two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Coaching the Utes would bring Krystkowiak closer to his family, who lives in the San Diego area.

His wife, Jan, is an author of children's books and owns an advertising and marketing firm. They have five children.

Gottfried is an Alabama native who played for the Crimson Tide.

He was an assistant at UCLA for eight seasons (1987-95), where he built a reputation as a strong recruiter.

After three years at Murray State University, Gottfried was hired by Alabama in March 1998.

Alabama won the Southeastern Conference regular-season title in 2001-02 and went to the NCAA Tournament five years in a row.

He resigned in January 2009 after two seasons in which the Tide failed to make the NCAA Tournament.

He came under fire for a 12-7 start that was marred by the departure of one of the team's top players.

Since his stint with Alabama, Gottfried has worked as an analyst for ESPN but is eager to return to the coaching ranks with the Utes, a source close to the situation said.

lwodraska@sltrib.comTwitter: @lyawodraska