Celtics’ Will Hardy Leading Candidate For Jazz Coaching Opening

Celtics assistant Will Hardy is considered a leading candidate for the Jazz’s coaching vacancy, per Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune.

Hardy, 34, is among multiple candidates for the Jazz job, which opened when Quin Snyder stepped down earlier this month after eight seasons. Former Lakers coach Frank Vogel, ex-Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts and current Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin are also said to be among those in the mix.

Hardy started as a video coordinator with the Spurs in 2010, before being elevated to the role of assistant under Gregg Popovich. He was hired to Ime Udoka‘s coaching staff with the Celtics last summer.

Jazz CEO Danny Ainge is believed to be the main voice in Utah’s coaching search. Ainge spent more than a decade as the Celtics’ head of basketball operations, but left before Hardy arrived in Boston.

Ainge has gone on record saying there are “many, many coaches who would die to have this job,” and said the Jazz intend to be deliberate and take their time in the search.

“We’re trying to figure out what net to cast,” Ainge said, via Dana Greene of ABC4. “Do they have to have head coaching experience? Are they just NBA guys? Are they NBA assistants? What’s the age criteria and experience criteria?”