Reports: Jerry Sloan To Resign From Jazz After 23 Seasons

Jerry Sloan, head coach of the Utah Jazz for the past 23 seasons, intends to resign today at a 5pm (3pm mountain time) news conference. KSL television station in Salt Lake City first reported the rumored resignation of Sloan and assistant Phil Johnson. 

Reports from an anonymous source claim that Sloan's decision comes, in part, from an argument with Jazz star PG Deron Williams at halftime of the team's 91-86 loss to the Chicago Bulls, according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. 


The Jazz call the news conference a "significant announcement," according to the Associated Press, but have yet to release official word on the purpose of the conference. 


Sloan, who has a 1127-682 record wit the Jazz, holds the record for most wins with one team and ranks only behind Don Nelson and Lenny Wilkens on the all-time wins list. Sloan led the Jazz to consecutive Western Conference championships in 1997 and 1998, but the team lost to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls in both finals. The NBA has seen 245 coaching changes during Sloan's tenure with Utah. The Jazz lost in the Western Conference Semifinals last season after finishing 53-29. The team started this season 31-23, second best record in the Northwest division. 


- Jeff Laboon