New Jazz head coach Will Hardy, just 34 years old, might want a veteran presence to look to this season.
Enter an experienced coach with his name in the Vivint Arena rafters.
Former Jazzman Jeff Hornacek was announced as part of Hardy’s coaching staff for the 2022-23 season on Thursday — Hornacek will play the role of a coaching consultant for the team. Besides his experience as a player alongside John Stockton and Karl Malone on the Jazz’s ‘90s Finals teams, Hornacek was the head coach of the New York Knicks from 2016-18, and the Phoenix Suns from 2013-16. Most recently, he worked as an assistant in Houston.
Furthermore, Alex Jensen, Lamar Skeeter, and Bryan Bailey will all return from former coach Quin Snyder’s staff in Utah. All will sit on the front row, alongside Hardy. If Hardy is ejected from a game, Jensen would step up to be the team’s head coach, just as he did under Snyder last season.
Irv Roland also returns from Snyder’s staff. Chris Jones and Sanjay Lumpkin, who had different job titles under Snyder, now are considered player development coaches under Hardy.
But there are new coaches that Hardy has accumulated as well. Player development expert Evan Bradds will join Hardy’s staff after serving alongside Hardy for the Celtics last season. Jason Terry, who enjoyed a 19-year NBA career before becoming a G League head coach, has also joined Hardy’s staff.
Becca Ward will serve as director of team operations. Sean Sheldon, the former video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs, now becomes an assistant coach in Utah. Anthony Beaumont will be the Jazz’s head video coordinator, with Andrew Warren and Matthew Temple working as assistant video coordinators.
