Utah Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan To Leave
Surprising news out of Salt Lake City where the longest tenured coach in US qualified sports-Jerry Sloan of the Utah Jazz-is predictable to resign effective instantly on Thursday afternoon. The players have scheduled a 2 PM Pacific press conference to address a flurry of media reports that Sloan, along with longtime assistant Phil Johnson, are calling it quits. Sloan agreed to a one year extension just a few days ago but since then conflicts with point guard Deron Williams and team president Kevin O'Connor have in fact resulted in a change of heart.
Salt Lake TV station KSL first reported on the Sloan departure, with the rest of the Beehive State media soon following suit. The particular reason for Sloan's departure is not yet known, but a number of sources informed that the coach and Jazz President Kevin O'Connor had a heated debate after Utah's loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
The two men spent 45 minutes immediately after the contest hashing it out which immediately sent up a 'red flag' to the Jazz beat reporters who were used to Sloan making his postgame appearances like clockwork.
Predictably, much of the issue seems to be Sloan's troubles with the 'new breed' of NBA player. Known as one of the toughest, firmest working players in league history he assisted from the presence of a couple of other all time NBA 'gladiators' during the early part of his career-John Stockton and Karl Malone. The last straw for Sloan may have been his increasingly contentious relationship with All Star point guard Deron Williams who, in spite of his solid complete play, had a penchant for "blaming things on everyone else".
Sloan was in his 23rd season as Jazz head coach and the numbers he's accumulated there are downright sarcastic. Two years ago he became the first NBA head coach to win 1,000 games with the same team as part of an overall record of 1221-803 -- a .603 winning percentage -- and a playoff record of 98-104. The 202 games he's coached in the postseason is equal to 2 usual season schedules. He was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 based on his coaching resume. Before becoming a coach, he had a reputation as one of the NBA's toughest (some would say 'dirtiest') players. He played for 11 years in the league and was titillated to the All Defensive team four times.
The Jazz had lost 8 of their last 12 games prior to Sloan's stunning departure. His last game at the helm of the team came on Wednesday night at the Energy Solutions Arena as Utah lost to the Chicago Bulls as a -1 point NBA betting favorite.
Salt Lake TV station KSL first reported on the Sloan departure, with the rest of the Beehive State media soon following suit. The particular reason for Sloan's departure is not yet known, but a number of sources informed that the coach and Jazz President Kevin O'Connor had a heated debate after Utah's loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
The two men spent 45 minutes immediately after the contest hashing it out which immediately sent up a 'red flag' to the Jazz beat reporters who were used to Sloan making his postgame appearances like clockwork.
Predictably, much of the issue seems to be Sloan's troubles with the 'new breed' of NBA player. Known as one of the toughest, firmest working players in league history he assisted from the presence of a couple of other all time NBA 'gladiators' during the early part of his career-John Stockton and Karl Malone. The last straw for Sloan may have been his increasingly contentious relationship with All Star point guard Deron Williams who, in spite of his solid complete play, had a penchant for "blaming things on everyone else".
Sloan was in his 23rd season as Jazz head coach and the numbers he's accumulated there are downright sarcastic. Two years ago he became the first NBA head coach to win 1,000 games with the same team as part of an overall record of 1221-803 -- a .603 winning percentage -- and a playoff record of 98-104. The 202 games he's coached in the postseason is equal to 2 usual season schedules. He was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 based on his coaching resume. Before becoming a coach, he had a reputation as one of the NBA's toughest (some would say 'dirtiest') players. He played for 11 years in the league and was titillated to the All Defensive team four times.
The Jazz had lost 8 of their last 12 games prior to Sloan's stunning departure. His last game at the helm of the team came on Wednesday night at the Energy Solutions Arena as Utah lost to the Chicago Bulls as a -1 point NBA betting favorite.
About the Author:
Daniel Scott is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on price per head. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and pay per head sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
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