It’s no secret around the Wasatch Front that Jerry Sloan runs the show for the Utah Jazz. For the past 18 years, Jerry has been roaming the sidelines for the Jazz (current longest coaching tenure in the NBA).

When it’s all said and done, Jerry will be in the Hall of Fame recognized as one of the greatest coaches the game has ever seen.

But even the greatest of coaches, can’t do it by themselves. Just as important as having quality players, is having a quality coaching staff behind you. It’s a job that doesn’t get a lot of notoriety and recognition, but is an integral part of the overall equation of a successful basketball team.

Assistant Coach Phil D. Johnson (Utah State)

Sound exciting yet? But ask any assistant coach in the NBA and they’ll tell you they love it. Coaches tend to be a different breed. They eat, sleep and drink basketball. And for Jazz assistants Phil Johnson, Tyrone Corbin, Scott Layden, and Mark McKown, it’s not any different.

On this particular cold December morning, it’s game day for the Utah Jazz. And on game days for the coaching staff, the routine is much like Bill Murray’s in the movie “Groundhog Day.” Right around 8:45 a.m., lead assistant Phil Johnson begins to walk through the isolated tunnels of the Delta Center to head to his office for the 9 a.m. coaches meeting. Minutes later, the rest of the coaches arrive, ready to meet and start preparing for the night’s game.

In the coaches meeting, either Tyrone Corbin (aka Ty) or Scott Layden will present the scouting report they had been preparing the past few days. Tonight’s game versus the visiting Portland Trail Blazers is Scott’s game. He goes on to break down film, both of the Blazers and the Jazz. He explains to the coaches trends he found, things his team can improve on, and offensive and defensive sets of the opposing team.

After presenting his findings, the coaches will discuss their strategy going into the night’s game. Assistant coach Mark McKown, who serves more as a player development coach, typically lets the four main coaches deliberate with one another.

Assistant Coach Scott Layden (St. Francis)

Ty, who just four years ago, wrapped up a 15-year NBA career (three of them were with the Jazz, 1991-94) is in his second year as a Jazz assistant.

During the Rocky Mountain Revue over the summer, Ty was the team’s head coach. He aspires to be a head coach in this league, and Jerry has a lot of faith that Ty’s goal will be a reality.

“I think that he has been terrific for us,” says Jerry, “he could easily be a head coach for an NBA team.”

Around 3 p.m. Ty finally takes his break and drives home to get a quick bite before heading back to the Delta Center less than two hours later.

Scott on the other hand, keeps preparing at the practice facility, because in less than 24 hours, the Jazz leave town for their annual, nine-day, five-game, pre-Christmas, east coast road trip. One of the teams the Jazz will visit on this trip, the New York Knicks, was the team that Scott served as President and General Manager for four and a half-years (1999-2004). Prior to the Knicks, Scott was an assistant coach and eventually an executive for the Jazz.

Assistant coaches pledge allegence with Sloan before a Jazz game

While on the other side, Scott is teaching post moves to some of the Jazz big men. The mood in the court is really relaxed, as players split time from getting shots up, to chatting amongst themselves, to even schmoozing with some of the Blazers who are doing the same thing on the other side of the court. At one point, Ty starts showing Jazz guard Milt Palacio that he can still play by hitting four straight 18 footers.

Right around this same time, Jerry and Phil are sitting in the Press Room grabbing some early dinner. On this early evening, Jazz personnel and members of the media are treated to some ham, hot wings and cheese potatoes. After dinner, Phil goes on to watch some film before the game so that he can assist Scott on the scouting report. While Scott focuses on the plays of the Blazers, Phil breaks down the individual characteristics of opposing players. Phil, the former NBA Coach of the Year with the Kansas City/Omaha Kings in 1975, is in his 18th year as Jerry’s top assistant.

“You really feel good about staying in one place in this league,” says Phil about his time in Utah. “What has changed is the personnel. We have gone from a veteran team with a lot of experience, to a team with little experience. So those are the things that keep you fresh and keep you going.”

At 6:24 p.m. on the dot, all the coaches meet for the final time to confirm their game plan before game time at 7 p.m. Scott and Ty dress into their suits before taking the floor. After a quick pre-game speech, the players take the floor. Showtime!

During the game, Jerry is as his usual self: back and forth from his chair to the sidelines where he yells out plays and also yells at refs. Throughout the game, Phil and Jerry converse on the bench, while Ty and Scott are jotting things down on their clipboard. Ty says that he tries to find trends (fastbreak points, second shots, etc.) in the game, and see where they can make adjustments. Scott pays more attention to the plays the team is running, and trying to figure out whether the Jazz needs to make changes. During timeouts, all four coaches converse with each other before going into the huddle to talk to their players.

When it was all said and done, the Jazz were able to squeeze by the Blazers with the final score of 82-77. The much needed win (since the Jazz had struggled at home early in the year) marked the Jazz’s second straight victory. Ten minutes after the game, Jerry Sloan is in the locker room talking to the usual group of reporters. Ty is roaming the locker room, talking to players and disappearing in the back. Phil is nowhere to be found, in the coaches room probably. Thirty minutes after the games, he goes outside the locker room for his regular radio show. Mark is in the trainers room, working out the players who didn’t play much. All players that didn’t play over 20 minutes during the game must work out on the bike for 20 minutes.

Around a quarter ‘til 10, Scott finally leaves the locker room. He looks in good spirits, although he looks a little drained. All his hard work and game preparation has paid off, but he knows his job is far from done.

“I think it’s just one small aspect of the whole system,” says Scott, “It’s just giving out information and doing it in a concise manner because we have so many games.”

That very next afternoon, the Jazz take off for that long road trip that has become a familiarity every holiday season. Scott and the rest of the coaching staff knows that it will be a rough one too. The “Groundhog Day” routine will still be in effect, only now the plane rides and downtime in the hotels and airports will serve as their office time. Sure, it’s a grueling job. But Mark, Ty, Scott, and Phil wouldn’t have it any other way.
-Gerald Narciso