Frank Vogel, David Fizdale Among The Many Linked To Jazz Vacancy

Former Lakers coach Frank Vogel and ex-Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni are among those who have been linked to the Jazz coaching vacancy, as is ex-Lakers assistant David Fizdale, as relayed by Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune.

The Jazz are looking to replace Quin Snyder, who just stepped down after eight seasons on the job.

Jazz owner Ryan Smith and lead executive Danny Ainge both said, via Larsen, that the search is in its early stages.

“I have my ideas, but we really haven’t discussed it internally with the rest of the staff, or with Ryan,” Ainge said. “… I have a few [in mind], but I’m not sure I even know them well enough to give you their names. But it’s the very beginning of the process.”

D’Antoni has currently been cited as one of two finalists for the Hornets vacancy, so he could be out of the running in Utah fairly quickly.

Meanwhile, Fizdale was just informed that he will not be retained as an assistant in LA under new coach Darvin Ham, as we relayed earlier.

Along with the aforementioned, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, earlyJazz candidates include:

Former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, Suns assistant Kevin Young, Bucks assistant Charles Lee, Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant, Celtics assistant Will Hardy and Jazz assistant Alex Jensen.

Larsen added Vogel, D’Antoni, Fizdale and Pistons assistant Jerome Allen to that list.

“We’re going to take our time,” Smith said. “We gotta get it right.”

Ainge added that the Jazz “have big shoes to fill” in aiming to replace Snyder, who may or may not coach again next season. The possibility exists that he could just take the year off.