Jazz Head Coaching Interview Tracker

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz coaching search is underway, and in its infancy, the names of candidates the team plans to interview are rolling in at a frenetic pace.

CEO Danny Ainge and owner Ryan Smith said they weren’t going to rush the process, and wanted to make sure they found the right person for the job.

The Jazz have reportedly moved past the initial stages of the process and are holding second interviews with multiple candidates.

“Sources said the Jazz are scheduling second interview times with almost all of their 15 head coaching candidates as the next step in the process,” The Athletic‘s Shams Charania reported.

Both Ryan Smith and Danny Ainge hinted at an extended coaching search for the @utahjazz.

What we learned about the Jazz offseason plans at today's press conference. #TakeNote https://t.co/INAQCEOZve

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 6, 2022

In total, the Jazz have 15 candidates that have reportedly interviewed for the job which opened after Quin Snyder resigned from the position after eight seasons with the team.

“I’m in a position where I haven’t really been looking to the same extent for those coaches,” Ainge said. “There’s a lot of names I know I’m familiar with in the coaching world, but this will be much different than the two previous ones. Probably more thorough.”

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

With that in mind, here’s a running list of names that will reportedly interview for the Jazz open coaching position.

Former Head Coaches

Terry Stotts: Former Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach

• Prior to his successful nine-year stretch in Portland, Stotts oversaw the both the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks.
• Led Trail Blazers to eight playoff appearances in nine seasons.
• Took Portland to 2019 Western Conference Finals
• Eliminated in first round five of eight postseason appearances.

ESPN Sources: The Jazz received permission to interview several assistant coaches for head job, including Johnnie Bryant (Knicks), Will Hardy (Celtics), Charles Lee (Bucks), and Joe Mazzulla (Celtics). Jazz assistant Alex Jensen and Terry Stotts will interview too.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 7, 2022

Frank Vogel: Former Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach

• Has been head coach of the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, and Los Angeles Lakers since 2011.
• Led Lakers to 2020 NBA Title in the bubble
• Pacers all-time winningest head coach
• Two-time NBA All-Star Game Head Coach

Two more candidates expected to interview for Utah’s coaching job, sources tell ESPN: Frank Vogel and Jazz assistant Lamar Skeeter. https://t.co/1zQX8Trhq3

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 8, 2022

Jazz Current And Former Assistant Coaches

Alex Jensen: Utah Jazz Assistant Coach

• Jazz Assistant Coach since 2013
• Head Coach of G League Canton Charge
• G League Coach of the Year in 2013
• Assistant Coach of German National Team
• Former star at University of Utah

Lamar Skeeter: Utah Jazz Assistant Coach

• With Jazz since 2014 as Developmental Coach and Assistant Coach
• Former video intern with the Atlanta Hawks
• Played at Walsh University in Canton, Ohio

Johnnie Bryant: New York Knicks Assistant Coach

• Jazz Assistant Coach from 2014-2020
• Associated Head Coach of Knicks from 2020-Current
• Player Development Coach prior to joining Jazz
• Former University of Utah guard

Top NBA Assistants

Will Hardy: Boston Celtics Assistant

• Celtics Assistant Coach under Ime Udoka 2021-Current
• San Antonio Spurs Assistant Coach 2013-2020
• Spurs Summer League Coach 2015-2018
• Assistant Coach for Team USA at the 2019 FIBA World Cup

Adrian Griffin: Toronto Raptors Assistant

• NBA Assistant since 2008 for Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors
• Interviewed for Jazz Head Coaching job in 2014
• Won NBA Title in 2019 with Raptors
• Nine-year NBA career as player

Kevin Young: Phoenix Suns Assistant

• NBA Assistant since 2017 for Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns
• Former G League Head Coach with Utah Flash, Iowa Energy, and Deleware 87ers
• Former Utah Valley Assistant Coach
• Salt Lake City Native

Utah has requested permission to interview two more assistant coaches — Toronto's Adrian Griffin and Phoenix's Kevin Young, sources tells ESPN. https://t.co/0mc1YWH7bl

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 8, 2022

Chris Quinn: Miami Heat Assistant

• Heat Assistant since 2014
• Northwestern Assistant Coach 2013-14
• Six-year NBA career as a player
• Former Notre Dame star

The Utah Jazz have requested permission to interview Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn for franchise's head coaching job, sources tell ESPN. Quinn also talked with Charlotte for that opening. He has spent eight seasons on Erik Spoelstra's staff.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 8, 2022

Charles Lee: Milwaukee Bucks Assistant

• Assistant under Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta and Milwaukee since 2014
• Bucknell Assistant from 2012-14
• Won NBA Title with Bucks in 2021
• Four-year professional career overseas as a player

Joe Mazulla: Boston Celtics Assistant

• Celtics Assistant since 2019
• Fairmont State Head Coach from 2017-19
• G League Assistant 2016-17
• Played at West Virginia from 2006-11

Sean Sweeney: Dallas Mavericks Assistant

• Mavericks Assistant since 2021
• Previously an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets
• Video coordinator for University of Northern Iowa (2010-11)
• Previously the Director of Basketball Operations at University of Evansville
• Played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and University of St. Thomas (Saint Paul)

The Utah Jazz requested permission to interview Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney for the franchise’s head coaching job, sources tell ESPN. Sweeney also interviewed for Charlotte’s opening in this cycle.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 9, 2022

Jason Terry: Grand Rapids Gold (G-League) Head Coach

• 19-year NBA playing career
• Arizona Wildcats assistant coach during 2020-21 season
• Grand Rapids Gold head coach from 2021 to present

The Utah Jazz have received permission to interview NBA G League Grand Rapids Gold coach Jason Terry for the franchise’s head coaching job, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Terry is also under consideration for assistant positions with other NBA teams.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 10, 2022

Jerome Allen: Detroit Pistons Assistant

• Pistons assistant coach since 2021
• Played college basketball at Penn (1991-95)
• Played in the NBA from 1995-97 (Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets)
• Head coach at Penn from 2009-15
• NBA assistant coach since 2015 (Boston Celtics, Pistons)

The Utah Jazz received permission to interview Detroit Pistons assistant Jerome Allen for the franchise’s coaching job, sources tell ESPN. Jazz are beginning first-round of zoom interviews over next few days.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2022

Sam Cassell: Philadelphia 76ers Assistant

• 15 seasons as a player in the NBA, playing for Rockets, Suns, Mavericks, Nets, Bucks, Timberwolves, Clippers and Celtics
• Washington Wizards assistant from 2009-14
• Los Angeles Clippers assistant from 2014-20
• Philadelphia 76ers assistant from 2020-present

The Utah Jazz are interviewing Philadelphia 76ers assistant Sam Cassell for their open head coaching job, sources tell me and @Tjonesonthenba. Cassell was part of the 2008 champion Celtics, constructed by now-Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, and has been an assistant coach since 2009.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 15, 2022

This list will be updated throughout the Jazz hiring process.

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