Former Utah Jazz coach and basic supervisor Frank Layden died on Wednesday. He was 93.
Layden coached the Jazz for seven-plus seasons (1981-89) and likewise served within the entrance workplace as basic supervisor and president till retiring within the closing week of 1999. He was NBA Coach of the Yr and NBA Govt of the Yr in 1984.
Layden laid the muse for fulfillment for Utah by drafting level guard John Stockton sixteenth within the 1984 draft and energy ahead Karl Malone thirteenth within the 1985 draft. Each gamers loved Corridor of Fame careers and the Jazz put collectively a streak of 20 straight playoff appearances, reaching the NBA Finals in each 1997 and 1998.
“We’re unhappy to listen to the information of Frank Layden’s passing,” mentioned the Miller household, homeowners of the Jazz. “Frank was not solely a foundational a part of the Utah Jazz, he was a pillar in our group. We’ll proceed to have a good time his ardour and vitality that helped construct the Jazz right into a contending group, and his endearing humorousness.
“Frank’s love of sports activities was contagious. He may usually be discovered spending an evening on the ballpark with the Salt Lake Bees, main us in tune through the seventh inning stretch. He was a pricey buddy and noteworthy associate. We share our love with Barbara, Scott and the prolonged Layden household.”
Layden was employed as GM of the New Orleans Jazz in 1979 and caught with the franchise throughout its transfer to Utah. He compiled a 277-294 teaching file and guided the Jazz to 5 straight postseason appearances.
When he resigned as coach early within the 1988-89 season, Layden promoted Jerry Sloan, who went on to win 1,127 video games with Utah.
Layden additionally had a brief stint with the Utah Starzz of the WNBA. He resigned 4 video games into the 1999 season, his second on the helm.
Amongst his different stops was coach of Niagara from 1968-76. Future NBA star Calvin Murphy led the varsity to its first NCAA Event look in Layden’s second season. Layden went 119-97 at Niagara.
In 2019, Layden was that 12 months’s winner of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.
–Area Stage Media