RIP Jerry Sloan

[Liut]

Multiple outlets reporting his death. 23 years coaching the Jazz. I remember him just as much as a hard-nosed Chicago Bulls player.

 

[MileHigh]

Jazz statement:

Jazz Statement on the Passing of Jerry Sloan | Utah Jazz

RIP.

 

[BTExpress]

Hard to believe he coached that team three times longer than Frank Layden, whom I still associate as "Jazz coach"

 

[Tweener]

I feel like Sloan never quite got his due. Somehow never won Coach of the Year (while guys like Scottie Brooks, Byron Scott and Sam Mitchell have) and was never mentioned with the best of the best coaches in NBA history. But 23 years and 18 consecutive playoffs berths with one franchise says a lot.

 

[Della9250]

Had 3 60-win seasons and couldn't get the award.

Of course we live in a world where Phil Jackson and Jerry Sloan combined to win one COY Award and Cotton Fitzsimmons, Bill Fitch and Gene Shue each won twice

 

[MileHigh]

At least Phil Jackson won it once -- but it took a 72-10 season to do so.

 

[HanSenSE]

Still remember how Sloan and Norm Van Lier were a thorn in the side of the Warriors throughout the 1974-75 West finals. RIP.

 

[Songbird]

Sloan/Stockton/Malone should've won a few titles. They were so ****ing good.

 

[Jesus_Muscatel]

I remember Jerry Sloan as a player. That was one tough dude. Not surprising that he was a success as a coach. RIP, Coach Sloan.

 

[Liut]

IIRC, post-NBA playing career Sloan accepted the head coaching position at his alma mater, Evansville, only to change his mind. During what would have been Sloan's first season, Evansville's plane went down.

 

[Scout]

'We lost a titan today': Frank Layden remembers his loyal, lifelong friend — The Athletic

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Still remember how Sloan and Norm Van Lier were a thorn in the side of the Warriors throughout the 1974-75 West finals. RIP.

The Bulls beat the Pistons in 7 that year
Sloan, Van Lier, Chet Walker, Butterbean Love and Tom Boerwinkle for the Bulls
Dave Bing, Bob Lanier, Stu Lantz, Curtis Rowe and Don Adams for the Pistons

 

[poindexter]

Sloan had one of the funnier comments on the Last Dance.
While up on the podium after the Jazz' 54 point effort in '98, he was looking at the stat sheet and deadpanned, "Is this it? I think this stat sheet isn't complete. "

 

[Liut]

Weird. Just happened to stop by NBA TV this morning and it was running Game 4 of the 1975 Finals. Warriors swept, of course, but IIRC two wins were by one point. Have always wondered how Chicago would have faired against Washington.