Jerry Sloan Resigns As Jazz Head Coach

Added on Feb 10, 2011 by Scott in

NBA

After 23 years on the bench, Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan has resigned. Sloan was the longest-tenured coach in the NBA. The Jazz are supposed to make an official announcement at a 5 pm ET press conference. According to Yahoo Sports, the reason for Sloan’s sudden departure had to do with a contentious relationship with point guard Deron Williams. Things came to a head at halftime of Wednesday’s night game with Chicago when the two argued in the locker room.

Evidently, Sloan and Williams had clashed several times throughout the season. Sloan became increasingly frustrated with what he deemed as Williams’ selfish behavior and tendency to point the finger of blame at others. At 68, the coach just couldn’t handle his star player any longer and felt the best solution was to part ways.

Assistant Ty Corbin has been pegged interim coach. The Jazz currently sit at 31-23, second place in the Northwest Division and sixth overall in the Western Conference. Utah has qualified for the playoffs in 19 off the last 22 seasons. including a pair of trips to the NBA Finals.