Jazz coach Sloan resigns

This article was published on February 10th, 2011.

SALT LAKE CITY — Jerry Sloan, the 23-year head coach of the Utah Jazz, shocked the Jazz organization and fan base Thursday by resigning, along with 18-year assistant coach Phil Johnson.

Assistant coach Tyrone Corbin will take over as head coach of the Jazz.

Emotions ran high for Sloan as the Jazz announced his resignation in a press conference Thursday.


The speculations will still run wild all over Utah and the NBA as to why Sloan decided to leave so abruptly. But to him, it is a simple matter.

“I made the decision, like I said many times — when it’s time for me to go, it’s time for me to go,” Sloan said.

Contrary to the rumors, Sloan said he is not leaving the Jazz with a bitter taste in his mouth.
“I’m not walking away from here hoping they lose,” Sloan said. “I’m hoping they win every game.”
The final decision to resign was announced at a 10 a.m. meeting Thursday between Sloan, Johnson and the Miller family, who own the Jazz.

“This morning when we met with Jerry as a family he informed us that the time had come,” Greg Miller said. “All of us that were in the room threw everything we had at him trying to get him to stay.”

Sloan squashed rumors that Deron Williams was part of the reason for his leaving.
“I don’t have any problem with Deron,” Sloan said. “His job is to play and mine was to coach. Deron’s a terrific player and everyone knows it.”

Miller confirmed those feelings during the press conference and let the world know this was a resignation and not a firing.

“Nobody pushed Jerry or Phil out. No players pushed them out. [General manager] Kevin [O’Connor] didn’t push them out. An aspiring head coach didn’t push them out and I certainly didn’t push them out,” Miller said.

Gail Miller, wife of the late Larry Miller, was on hand for the announcement and expressed her appreciation for Sloan and all he has done for the program.

“I know that all good things must come to an end and today is an end to an amazing era,” Miller said. “Thank you Jerry, thank you Phil. I will always remember you as the solid and stable foundation that the Utah Jazz was built on.”

Sloan’s departure is the end of a legendary era for the Jazz franchise, and the somber tone at the press conference reflected that feeling.

Both Sloan and Johnson were supportive of the mantle being shifted to Corbin, and the Jazz community is anxious to see where he takes the team from here.

“In my opinion they couldn’t have picked a better guy,” Sloan said. “We love him to death, we loved him when we had him here as a player, he’s a class guy. He’s a hard worker.”

Finding out about a half hour before the press conference, Corbin’s reaction reflected the mix of emotions he has felt.

“For me this is a bittersweet moment. I had no idea going into shootaround yesterday that coach [Sloan] and Phil would not be with us in the morning,” Corbin said.

Sloan has led this team since 1988 and has won more than 1,000 games with the Jazz, the only NBA coach to win more than 1,000 times with one team. He led the Jazz to the NBA Finals twice, in 1997 and 1998, but lost both times to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

“Everybody likes to win a world championship,” Sloan said. “But I think our team laid everything they had out there when they were in that position. You can’t ask any more. You should be able to hold your head up, go home and go to bed.”