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Sloan quits Jazz after 23 yrs
Source: Agencies |
February 12, 2011, Saturday
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LONGTIME Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said on Thursday a drop-off in energy was behind his sudden decision to resign after 23 years with the National Basketball Association team.
The 68-year-old Hall of Fame coach, who earlier this year agreed to a one-year contract extension to remain with the team, steered the Jazz to a 31-23 record this season.
He will be replaced by assistant coach Ty Corbin, who will take over for today's game against the Phoenix Suns.
"Twenty-three years is a long time to be a part of one organization ... my time is up and it's time for me to move on," an emotional Sloan said at a news conference in Salt Lake City.
"You only have so much energy left and my energy level has dropped off quite a bit."
Sloan, whose first three years as an NBA coach came with the Chicago Bulls from 1979-80, had a 1,221-803 career record and is the only NBA coach to win 1,000 games with a franchise.
He ranked third all-time in NBA wins (1,221) behind Don Nelson (1,335) and Lenny Wilkens (1,332).
Sloan also was one of only three coaches in NBA history with 15-plus consecutive seasons with a winning record. Pat Riley and Phil Jackson, both with 19, are the others.
He had been the longest-serving head coach of any of the four major North American pro sports teams. Also leaving with him was his top assistant coach Phil Johnson.
"Nobody pushed Jerry or Phil out," said Jazz owner Greg Miller. "I've loved and respected Jerry for as long as I can remember. I have great respect and admiration for Jerry."
Miller said Sloan called a meeting with management earlier on Thursday. "All of us in the room threw everything we had at him to get him to stay," Miller said.
The moves followed an emotional 86-91 loss to the Bulls on Wednesday, Utah's 10th in the last 14 games.
Sloan said he had no interest in coaching another team.
"I'm not looking for another job. My wife has a job for me when I get home."
Sloan's long, successful run with the Jazz included teams led by the great partnership of Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton.
They helped the team reach the NBA finals in 1988 and 1989 where they fell to Michael Jordan and the Bulls.
"Everyone wants to win a world championship," Sloan said. "But I think our team laid everything they had out there when they were in that position. That's all you can ask."
On the NBA courts on Thursday, Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half to power the Lakers to a come-from-behind 92-86 win over the Celtics in a rematch of the NBA finals in Boston.
Boston's Ray Allen became the NBA's career leader in 3-pointers in the first quarter. Allen hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter to pass former Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller (2,560), who was sitting courtside calling the game.
Elsewhere, it was: Nuggets 121, Mavericks 120; and Suns 112, Warriors 88.
The 68-year-old Hall of Fame coach, who earlier this year agreed to a one-year contract extension to remain with the team, steered the Jazz to a 31-23 record this season.
He will be replaced by assistant coach Ty Corbin, who will take over for today's game against the Phoenix Suns.
"Twenty-three years is a long time to be a part of one organization ... my time is up and it's time for me to move on," an emotional Sloan said at a news conference in Salt Lake City.
"You only have so much energy left and my energy level has dropped off quite a bit."
Sloan, whose first three years as an NBA coach came with the Chicago Bulls from 1979-80, had a 1,221-803 career record and is the only NBA coach to win 1,000 games with a franchise.
He ranked third all-time in NBA wins (1,221) behind Don Nelson (1,335) and Lenny Wilkens (1,332).
Sloan also was one of only three coaches in NBA history with 15-plus consecutive seasons with a winning record. Pat Riley and Phil Jackson, both with 19, are the others.
He had been the longest-serving head coach of any of the four major North American pro sports teams. Also leaving with him was his top assistant coach Phil Johnson.
"Nobody pushed Jerry or Phil out," said Jazz owner Greg Miller. "I've loved and respected Jerry for as long as I can remember. I have great respect and admiration for Jerry."
Miller said Sloan called a meeting with management earlier on Thursday. "All of us in the room threw everything we had at him to get him to stay," Miller said.
The moves followed an emotional 86-91 loss to the Bulls on Wednesday, Utah's 10th in the last 14 games.
Sloan said he had no interest in coaching another team.
"I'm not looking for another job. My wife has a job for me when I get home."
Sloan's long, successful run with the Jazz included teams led by the great partnership of Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton.
They helped the team reach the NBA finals in 1988 and 1989 where they fell to Michael Jordan and the Bulls.
"Everyone wants to win a world championship," Sloan said. "But I think our team laid everything they had out there when they were in that position. That's all you can ask."
On the NBA courts on Thursday, Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half to power the Lakers to a come-from-behind 92-86 win over the Celtics in a rematch of the NBA finals in Boston.
Boston's Ray Allen became the NBA's career leader in 3-pointers in the first quarter. Allen hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter to pass former Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller (2,560), who was sitting courtside calling the game.
Elsewhere, it was: Nuggets 121, Mavericks 120; and Suns 112, Warriors 88.
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