Salt Lake Metropolis (AP) – Frank Layden, the previous stay -minded coach who led Utah Jazz to the playoffs for the primary time, died. He was 93 years outdated.
“Frank Layden had a long-lasting impression on jazz, the state of Utah and the NBA”, ” Jazz mentioned in a press launch Wednesday. “There’ll by no means be one other like him. Our ideas go to his household after we be part of his loss and have fun his life. Keep straightforward, coach. “
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Identified for his humor and herdsman, Layden led to jazz from 1981 to 1989 and gained 277 victories, third within the historical past of the franchise. He’s the one coach within the historical past of jazz to be appointed coach of the 12 months of the NBA, successful the dignity in 1984, when he was additionally honored because the 12 months.
Born in Brooklyn in 1932, Layden started his profession as a coach within the rows of highschool earlier than going to the coach of his Alma Mater, on the College of Niagara. He leap to the NBA in 1976 on the workers of Hubie Brown with the Hawks of Atlanta and have become director basic of New Orleans Jazz in 1979.
Layden took workplace as a coach after Tom Nissalke was dismissed in the course of the 1981-82 season and led the franchise to his first look within the playoffs in his second season. Layden moved away from coaching at first of the 1988-1989 season and was changed by the long run temple of renown Jerry Sloan.
Layden remained the president and basic supervisor of the group, who’s a part of a workers who chosen the temple of renown John Stockton and Karl Malone. He spent a season as a coating of the WNBA Utah Starzz in 1998-99.
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“It’s troublesome to think about the historical past of Utah Jazz with out the presence of Frank Layden,” mentioned the homeowners of Jazz Ryan and Ashley Smith. “He was an unbelievable one that meant a lot for this group and for our followers. His love of sport was felt across the NBA, and he put the franchise on successful course, serving to to construct a long-lasting heritage for the state of Utah.”
Layden stayed within the Salt Lake Metropolis area after leaving coaching and gained the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
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