Knicks Introduce Former Jazz Assistant Johnnie Bryant
Sep 4, 2020, 12:26 PM | Updated: 12:34 pm
Utah Jazz assistant coach Johnnie Bryant, right, talks with the coaching staff during a Utah Jazz summer league game against the Boston Celtics at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, July 5, 2016. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – With the Utah Jazz season officially ended, the New York Knicks were able to announce the hiring of assistant coach Johnnie Bryant Friday. Bryant accepted the position in mid-August but remained with the Jazz through their first-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Bryant was named associate head coach to Tom Thibodeau’s staff. Mike Woodson and Andy Greer were named assistant coaches.
“With these hires, we have added a wealth of basketball experience and knowledge that will be of great service to our players and our organization,” Thibodeau said. “All of our coaches have had a high level of success in college, the NBA, or internationally.”
.@nyknicks Announce Coaching Staff Additions pic.twitter.com/bCOwynPycO
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) September 4, 2020
Bryant joined the Jazz in 2012 as a player development assistant before being named an assistant coach for the past six seasons. Before joining the Jazz, Bryant worked privately with former Jazzmen Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles, catching the eye of Jazz coach Quin Snyder.
The longtime Jazz assistant issued a statement on Twitter thanking those who helped him along the way in Utah.
“To the city and the state that embraced me when I first step foot on the campus of the University of Utah, I say thank you,” Bryant wrote. “To the Miller Family, Steve Starks, Dennis Lindsey and Ty Corbin, who believed in me and gave me an opportunity to coach in the NBA, I say thank you.”
Thank you… pic.twitter.com/0ytUY7xMkO
— Johnnie Bryant (@jbryant3) September 4, 2020
“To Quin Snyder who encouraged me daily to be the best coach that I can be, I say thank you. To all the players, co-workers, those at the arena, the friends, simply everyone, I say thank you.
“As I embark on new journey, I am very appreciative for this opportunity to coach for the KNicks and I am excited for my next coaching chapter in New York.”
Bryant was a standout basketball player in college for the University of Utah for two seasons from 2005-07. Bryant transferred from San Francisco City College and was named an All-Mountain West player in each of his two seasons for the Runnin’ Utes.
Thank you for everything, Johnnie ❤️
Good luck in New York! pic.twitter.com/dM3olSJjuO
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) September 4, 2020
Bryant becomes the second member of the Jazz organization to join the Knicks this summer. Former Jazz vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin was hired to serve as assistant general manager for the Knicks in May.
