Former Jazz coach and GM Layden dies at age 93

SALT LAKE CITY -- Frank Layden, the sharp-witted erstwhile manager who led the Utah Jazz to the playoffs for the archetypal time, has died. He was 93.

"Frank Layden made a lasting interaction connected the Jazz, the authorities of Utah, and the NBA," the Jazz said successful a connection Wednesday. "There volition ne'er beryllium different similar him. Our thoughts spell retired to his household arsenic we articulation successful mourning his nonaccomplishment and celebrating his life. Rest easy, Coach."

Known for his wit and sideline antics, Layden coached the Jazz from 1981 to 1989 and had 277 wins, 3rd astir successful franchise history. He is the lone manager successful Jazz past to beryllium named NBA Coach of the Year, earning the grant successful 1984, erstwhile helium besides was honored arsenic Executive of the Year.

Born successful Brooklyn, New York, successful 1932, Layden began his coaching vocation successful the precocious schoolhouse ranks earlier moving connected to manager astatine his alma mater, Niagara University. He made the leap to the NBA successful 1976 connected Hubie Brown's unit with the Atlanta Hawks and became the New Orleans Jazz's wide manager successful 1979.

Layden took implicit arsenic manager aft Tom Nissalke was fired midway done the 1981-82 play and led the franchise to its archetypal playoff quality successful his 2nd season. Layden stepped distant from coaching aboriginal successful the 1988-89 play and was replaced by aboriginal Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan.

Layden stayed connected arsenic the team's president and wide manager, portion of a unit that selected Hall of Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone. He spent 1 play arsenic manager of the WNBA's Utah Starzz successful 1998-99.

"It's hard to ideate the communicative of the Utah Jazz without the beingness of Frank Layden," Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith said. "He was an astonishing idiosyncratic who meant truthful overmuch to this enactment and to our fans. His emotion of the athletics was felt astir the NBA, and helium acceptable the franchise connected a people for success, helping to physique an enduring bequest for the authorities of Utah."

Layden remained successful the Salt Lake City country aft leaving coaching and earned the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award successful 2019.