Jerry Sloan Resigns

[Nyi28nhl]

SALT LAKE CITY -- Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan stepped down Thursday after 23 seasons and 1,127 wins at the helm of the Utah Jazz, saying he simply ran out of energy to coach anymore.

"I had a feeling this time was the time to move on," an emotional Sloan said during a Thursday afternoon news conference. "[That's] a long time to be in one organization. Again, I've been blessed. Today is a new day. When I get this over with, I'll feel better. My time is up and it's time to move on."

Longtime assistant Phil Johnson also resigned, surprising even Sloan during their postgame chat Wednesday night with general manager Kevin O'Connor.

While he has headed the Jazz, there have been 245 coaching changes around the league -- 13 alone by the Los Angeles Clippers, and five current NBA teams (Charlotte, Memphis, Toronto, Orlando and Minnesota) did not even exist when Sloan took the helm in Utah.

He ranks third all-time in NBA wins (1,221) behind Don Nelson (1,335) and Lenny Wilkens (1,332).

Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan resigns
sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6109031

[FootballFreak03]

Very surprising, but I guess he couldn't take the heat anymore and was tired of it. For the fact Deron Williams wouldn't call the play the coach wanted is ridiculous. I think he realized that the chances of him winning the title with him this year were slim, so he just walked

Great coach though. Shame that he had to run into the pinnacle of the Jordan era.. or else he would have at least a ring.

[ozzie]

I think there was a chance he would've gotten fired anyway....have the Jazz done anything the past 5 years?

I honestly don't know....