Following an extensive and wide-ranging search, it appears the Jazz have their man.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Celtics assistant Will Hardy is closing in a deal to become Utah coach, replacing Quin Snyder, who stepped down after eight seasons.
The Jazz have actually offered the job to Hardy, reported ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who added the deal is being finalized.
Hardy, 34, is among multiple candidates for the Jazz job, which opened when Snyder stepped down earlier this month. Former Lakers coach Frank Vogel, ex-Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts and current Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin were 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 went 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. You can read more about all the candidates on our Jazz page.
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What is it with Utah? This was semi-predictable from names they were interviewing. And Adrian Griffin has turned into a go-to for some franchise’s equivalent of appeasing the PR-image, similar to the NFL’s Rooney rule.
Two head coaches of color in franchise history. Elgin Baylor last hired in 1976. Corbin in 2011. (One head coach of color hired in the past 46 years).
Not surprised I have never heard of Will Hardy, or that he is extremely young and inexperienced.
He’s seen less basketball in his lifetime than many of the guys he will be coaching. And has certainly played in or been coached in himself even less than that.
What an opportunity.