Utah Jazz Coach Quin Snyder has stepped down after eight seasons with the franchise, the team announced Sunday.
Sources say ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski spent several weeks convincing Snyder to return as coach – even offering to extend his contract – but he simply decided his time had come to leave. quit job.
Sources told Wojnarowski, Snyder has two years left on his contract, including his own pick in the final year.
Snyder, who underwent hip surgery after the season, has made a comeback. Should he decide to make himself a candidate for other coaching jobs in the future, it is thought that Snyder will be a high priority for most teams that get the chance.
In a statement, Snyder said he was “grateful” for his time with the Jazz but his decision was for what was best for the team’s players.
“What’s at the core and what drives me every day is our players and their passion for the game, their desire to constantly work to improve and give their all to the team and the Jazz. I really do. felt they needed a new voice to continue to grow. “That’s it. There is no philosophical difference, no other reason. After eight years, I feel it’s time to move on,” Snyder said in a statement. “I need to take some time apart after the season and make sure this is the right decision.”
Sources told Wojnarowski the Jazz plans to start looking for a coach immediately.
Snyder had a 372-264 record in his eight seasons with the Jazz, matching Golden Empire Warriors‘Steve Kerr on third longest tenure with a team among head coaches active and followed only San Antonio Spurs‘Gregg Popovich and Miami HeatErik Spoelstra’s.
Snyder’s 372 wins are the second most by a head coach in Jazz history, behind Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan, who has 1,127 wins with the franchise.
After inheriting an up-and-coming franchise in the 25-57 season, Snyder played a prominent role in Utah becoming a perennial playoff team. Jazz has the longest running record at the Western Conference of six years, but Utah hasn’t made it past the conference’s semi-finals in this era.
Utah has undergone major changes at all levels of the organization during Snyder’s time in Utah, particularly over the past two years, including Ryan Smith’s purchase of the franchise from the Miller family and the transition from Dennis Lindsey to Danny Ainge as chief basketball executive.
“Quin Snyder has been the embodiment of Jazz basketball for the past eight years,” Smith said in a statement. “The tireless work ethic and attention to detail that Quin shows every day is a testament to his professionalism. I have nothing but admiration for Quin and respect for his decision. he.”
