Reports: Jerry Sloan to resign as coach of Utah Jazz

[charlie and algernon]

Jerry Sloan will resign as coach of the Utah Jazz on Thursday, according to media reports in Salt Lake City.

Sloan, who signed a one-year contract extension on Monday, said the team is planning a news conference for 5 p.m. ET on Thursday to discuss his future with the team. He did not offer further details, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Television station KSL first reported on its website that Sloan and assistant coach Phil Johnson planned to announce their resignations.

The Associated Press, citing a person with knowledge of the situation, also reported that Sloan and Johnson would resign.

Before joining the Jazz, Sloan coached the Bulls for two full seasons and part of a third. He has a career coaching record of 1221-803 -- a .603 winning percentage -- and a playoff record of 98-104.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6109031


:cry:

[wilt the stilt]

1. This is a legend resigning

I remember when Jerry and Norm Van Lier were a terrific backcourt and as tough as they come. They just couldn't get pass the lakers. Sad to see him go.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Nate Thurmond's Warriors Too

They struggled against big Nate's teams, and the Jojo White, John Havlicek Celtics. The Bulls of that era were a very good team, but never got over the bar to be great.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. :(

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=172082&mesg_id=172124

You spoke too soon. :(

[charlie and algernon]

4. yeah, I was thinking about that as I was posting this thread yesterday

this just sucks. Funny thing, is I've never lived or been to Utah before, but I've always loved the Jazz, ever since Stockton and Malone and Hornecek were there. This has just been a weird season, started off so great with all those comebacks against really good teams but lately they've had zero energy. I was actually at the Wizards game where the Jazz started that 6 or 7 game losing streak. You could tell that the Wizards wanted that game more, the Jazz were making very little effort to get any offensive rebounds, just seemed lifeless. I wonder if Sloan just lost interest and was just drained. 23 seasons as head coach, 26 overall, is an insanely long time. :wow:

[Drunken Irishman]

5. He's been the head coach for all my life...

And you're right, he just lost interest. Sloan has always said the day he loses interest is the day he's going to call it quits. I think that was the case. I think, at his age, he realized he didn't have the energy to handle the egos like he did a decade before.

You know, Sloan did deal with the biggest ego I've ever seen in Karl Malone and handled him well. So he could do it - but it takes a lot. And when you're pushing 70, sometimes that energy just isn't there anymore.

I just wish he could've gone out after one last game with everyone giving him a standing ovation. He should have said tonight's game against Phoenix would be his last.

I think every Jazz fan would love to stand and cheer him for ten minutes straight.

But of course, that's something Sloan wouldn't want.