IN THE HEADLINES

Jerry Sloan Resigns as Jazz Coach

Phil Johnson (assistant coach) stepped down with him

There are a lot of speculations as to why he is leaving the team and with only a few months left in the season. May believe it is due to players and their disrespect and wanting to run the team - mainly one in particular but no names mentioned (Darron Williams). Apparently Darron and Jerry have had some pretty big blowups with one of the last ones being that Darron totally went against a play Jerry had set up and decided to run his own. Of course no one involved with the Jazz including Jerry will come out and say that is why. His main reason for leaving is that he is tired and will be 69 in a few months. He's ready to move on. Jazz owner Greg Miller said they tired many times to talk him out of it and that "this was his time and his decision".

Jerry is a hard worker. He is very loyal, dedicated and never gave in or up and expected the same out of his team. He had great interaction with his players and he never bad mouthed anyone - even when asked about Darron he wouldn't say anything about it except that the got in arguments with other players as well. The arguments weren't anything new.

When Jerry was asked about his team he mentioned the Stockton/Malone era quite a bit. He talked about how hard working they were and how much they enjoyed practice- they would come early to practice and stay after - also how much fun they were to watch! However he didn't mention much about his current team. They apparently weren't into practice as much as the older team. They weren't as into the whole team idea and more about themselves.

Because he is such a hard worker it is strange to see him leave mid season (they tried to get him to stay at least until the All-Star brake to give them time to figure things out and he said "no") and two days after agreeing to a contract extension. He never quit and he never let his team quit.

Jerry Sloan decided last night that he was done. When he told Phil, Phil said I'm leaving with you. Management asked Jerry to sleep on it and come back this morning to talk about it. When he showed up this morning he hadn't changed his mind.

Ty Corbin is now the new Jazz Head Coach and found out in a meeting at noon then had the announcement press conference immediately following at 3 . It happened so quickly.

I don't know about you but I don't remember the Jazz without Jerry. He was the team! It's sad to see him go but it's even more sad to see him leave this way. I feel he deserves so much more than what he got - a press conference with a lot of confusion and disappointment.

Some random/interesting facts about Jerry

• Many of the players on his current team weren't even alive when Jerry became coach


• He spent 23 years running 1 NBA team

• The Utah Jazz and Jerry Sloan relationship began back in 1988 when he replaced head coach Frank Layton

• Only head coach in NBA History to win 1000 games with one team 1127 with Jazz; 1221 when you include his time with the Bulls

• He took over a team with two great players (Karl Malone John Stockton) They helped Sloan get two Back to back NBA finals; the first in 1997.

• Loss with both teams was 803; His winning percentage is 60% - the 7th best percentage in NBA history

• only 1 of 3 NBA coaches to have at least 15 straight winning seasons

• Longest tenered coach in professional sports

• lead Jazz to 16 straight post season appearances. The run ended in 2004

• Never got NBA coach of the year

• In 1997 after Jazz lost to Bulls in the finals his wife Bobbie reported she was diagnosed with Breast cancer.

• She Died in 2004 from pancreatic cancer

• Jerry Remarried in 2006 to Tammie

• Sloan coached 26 seasons - 23 with the Utah Jazz

Thanks for some fun years and great games Jerry!