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SALT LAKE CITY -- After setting a modern sports record of running an NBA team for 23 years. Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan resigned Thursday.
Jerry Sloan and the Utah Jazz are synonymous. Their relationship began in 1988 when Sloan, a former all-star with the Chicago Bulls, replaced head coach Frank Layden, who resigned that December.
Now, after nearly 26 seasons -- 23 as head coach with the Utah Jazz -- Jerry Sloan has called it quits.
"I've been fortunate to have terrific people to work with. My coaching staff, all the coaches who work with us, the fans and this organization have been second to none. We lose 56 games, we still have a tremendous crowd coming," Sloan said in a press conference Thursday afternoon. "We have terrific players; been fortunate to have great players to coach, have an opportunity to compete. I think I've been blessed for being here."
I've been fortunate to have terrific people to work with. My coaching staff, all the coaches who work with us, the fans and this organization have been second to none. We lose 56 games, we still have a tremendous crowd coming.
–Jerry Sloan
Sloan took over a team that had two great players in John Stockton and Karl Malone -- two players who helped get Sloan to back to back NBA finals -- the first in 1997.
Though both finals appearances ended in losses, the number of wins over Sloan's career is impressive. He's the only head coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games with one team. He leaves with a total of 1,127 with the Jazz -- 1,221 when you include his time with the Bulls. When you add in his losses with both teams of 803, his winning percentage was 60 percent -- the seventh best percentage in NBA history.
Sloan is only one of three NBA coaches to have at least 15 straight winning seasons and leaves as the third all-time winningest coach in history. Sloan is also the longest-tenured coach in sports. Despite his accomplishments, one always alluded him: NBA Coach of the Year.
While his numbers are impressive, Sloan also had his share of heartache. In 1997, after the Jazz lost to the Bulls in the finals, his high school sweetheart and wife Bobbye reported she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After it looked as though she made a full recovery, Bobbye died in June of 2004 of pancreatic cancer.
Sloan remarried in 2006, and now he and his second wife Tammy are making plans for their future.
He's hard-nosed, he's old school. In the old school he made those new players that are namby pamby, he makes them work harder.
–Jazz fan Sam Million
But Jerry Sloan's impact transcends basketball. His stability helped make the Jazz organization what it is, and that's been huge for the whole state.
Sloan is one of the most respected coaches in any sport.
"I think he was one of the best coaches ever," said Jazz fan Sam Million, echoing the sentiments of many. "He's hard-nosed, he's old school. In the old school he made those new players that are namby pamby, he makes them work harder."
No-nonsense with strong ethics, Sloan has been a solid face for a well-run organization. While that's huge in the world of sports, Sloan and the Jazz are huge outside of the arena, too.
"Jerry has been, I believe, a major influence in the state of Utah," said Lane Beattie, CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. "From an economic development standpoint the Jazz impact on this community, I think, is really underestimated."
With Sloan at courtside for 23-plus years, the Jazz had an incredible run, getting to the NBA Finals, twice. The effects of that put Utah on the map, in many ways.
But when the Jazz play at home Friday night, fans will no doubt feel it and see it -- something will be missing.
"There's a security blanket with Jerry," Beattie said. "This is a guy who knows basketball, and that's all anybody's has said about him. And then all of the sudden he's not there, it does make a difference."
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Story written with contributions from Kathy Aiken and Keith McCord.
