Celtics assistant could be candidate for Jazz head coach
A story of Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Grandstand reported that Boston Celtics assistant coach Will Hardy is a top contender for the Utah Jazz head coaching job. According to Larsen, Hardy is “considered by many league insiders to be a top candidate” in the search for Utah coaches, via Bleacher Report.
Former Jazz head coach Quin Snyder resigned after the 2022 season, ending his tenure 372-64 (.585) in the regular season and 21-30 (.412) in the playoffs.
Danny Ainge, former Celtics president and now Utah CEO, would have liked a young assistant coach to take over, and Hardy, 34, fits that mold. Hardy spent more than a decade on the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff, including five as an assistant coach, before joining Ime Udoka’s team in Boston last season. Even though Ainge and Hardy are both current or very recent members of the Celtics organization, their paths did not cross in Boston as current president of basketball operations Brad Stevens hired Udoka and his team.
Another Celtics assistant Joe Mazzulla has also been approached by the Jazz to interview for the coaching job. “If someone does [get a head coaching position]we like to rise indoors,” Udoka said, via CLNS Media.
