Frank Layden, former Jazz coach, dies at 93. He led Utah to the playoffs for the first time.
Frank Layden, the quick-witted former coach who led the Utah Jazz to the playoffs for the first time, has died at the age of 93.
“Frank Layden left a lasting impression on the Jazz, the state of Utah, and the NBA,” the Jazz said in a statement on Wednesday. “There will never be another like him. Our thoughts are with his family as we mourn his loss together and celebrate his life. Rest in peace, Coach.”
Layden shaped Utah Jazz and NBA
Layden was known for his humor and lively performances on the sidelines. He coached the Jazz from 1981 to 1989 and achieved 277 wins, the third most in franchise history.
He is the only Jazz coach to be named NBA Coach of the Year – an honor he received in 1984 when he was also honored as Executive of the Year.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1932, Layden began his coaching career in high school before coaching at his alma mater, Niagara University. In 1976, he made the leap to the NBA as part of Hubie Brown’s coaching staff with the Atlanta Hawks and became general manager of the New Orleans Jazz in 1979.
NBA legend writes history with Utah
Layden took over as coach after Tom Nissalke was fired in the 1981-82 season and led the franchise to its first playoff appearance in his second season.
At the start of the 1988-89 season, Layden stepped down as coach and was replaced by future Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan. However, Layden remained part of the staff as president and general manager of the team, which selected Hall of Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone.
In the 1998-99 season, Layden coached the WNBA team Utah Starzz for one season. “It’s hard to imagine the history of the Utah Jazz without the presence of Frank Layden,” said Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith. “He was an amazing person who meant so much to this organization and our fans. His love of the game was palpable throughout the NBA, and he set the franchise on a course for success, helping to build a lasting legacy for the state of Utah.”
Layden remained in the Salt Lake City area after his retirement and received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.