Journey to 900

On Saturday, February 7, 2004, Head Coach Jerry Sloan became the eighth head coach in NBA history to record 900 career victories.

He’s the same coach that played 10 seasons for one franchise and stuck around for another 16 with the team he leads now. Add two NBA Finals appearances, two Olympic gold medals to his resume and now – 900 wins

On Saturday, February 07, 2004, Jerry Sloan earned his 900^th victory as an NBA head coach and joined impressive company which includes Lenny Wilkens, Larry Brown, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, Bill Fitch, and Red Auerbach. Of the seven, only Pat Riley and Red Auerbach have a higher winning percentage than the longtime coach of the Utah Jazz.

Widely known as a no-nonsense, humble person, it’s no wonder few may have realized Sloan has risen so far in the ranks of NBA coaching. In fact, Jazz Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin O’Connor believes it wasn’t until 1997 that people really took notice of him.

“Nobody knew how good of a coach he was until the NBA Finals,” said O’Connor. “He’s been so good for so long people just expect it.”

Now, in his 16^th season with the Jazz, Jerry Sloan is sticking to the same principles he embodied as a player – hard work, discipline, and execution. In 10 seasons with the Chicago Bulls the McLeansboro, Ill., native made the All-Star team two times and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team on four occasions.

Recent descriptions of his current Jazz squad sound reminiscent of the those former Bulls teams Sloan anchored over 30 years ago.

But Sloan is careful in comparing the team he once played for and the one he now coaches. “I think there were some similarities there,” said Sloan. “ (But) there were different types of players, we have better players here. (In Chicago) we played well together, we played hard, we played every day.”

The Bulls were so impressed by Sloan, that following his playing days he was hired as a scout, and within two years he was named head coach.

COACHING JOURNEY

Sloan coached the Bulls for three seasons, until a rough start during the 1981-82 campaign when the Bulls replaced the first-time coach with Rod Thorn. Sloan has yet to be unemployed since.

Prior to the 1983-84 NBA season, Frank Layden, then head coach of the Jazz, hired Sloan as a scout. Much like his rise in the Bulls organization, Sloan was named an assistant coach a year later.

After four years as an assistant, Layden surprisingly announced his resignation 17 games into the 1988-89 season, leaving Sloan the coaching reins.

Sloan guided the Jazz to a 51-31 record and his first Midwest Division title as head coach while John Stockton, Karl Malone and Mark Eaton made the Western Conference All-Star team.

CHANGING TIMES

What remains so impressive about Sloan is the change he has weathered. Fifteen years ago the NBA was full of different personnel. 

“I’m a big fan of his,” says Chicago Bulls Head Coach Scott Skiles. “I was a fan of his as a player. He has always had a sound philosophy, and in my opinion, does things the right way. He has his players playing as a team on both ends of the floor, and they play with a level of professionalism – they always have – and he doesn’t tolerate anything else.”

When Sloan took over the Jazz, Skiles was a second year guard for the Indiana Pacers, current Seattle Sonics Head Coach Nate McMillan was in a jersey, and the Milwaukee Buck’s Terry Porter was terrorizing the Jazz from behind the arch for the Portland Trail Blazers.

“There’s been a lot of things that have changed,” said Sloan. “The three-point shot, zone defense – all those things.”

But what keeps Sloan coming back year after year has never been affected by rule changes. It’s the same part of the game that first drew him as Bulls assistant, and it motivates him to this day.

“I enjoy seeing guys succeed,” said Sloan. “Seeing them get better a little bit at a time and work hard, those are they types of things I really enjoy watching.”

DURABILITY

So what is it that has made Sloan so durable in a game of ups and downs, player injuries and losing streaks? He separates his private life from basketball, leaving wins and losses on the floor.

“You can work hard and do the best you can, but when it’s all said and done and the day’s over, there isn’t anymore you can do,” Sloan said. “You do the best you can; you go home, and if you win – fine. If you lose, you have to accept that and go on about your life.”

“This isn’t a matter of life and death,” continued Sloan. “I think I’m a hard worker; I’ve always worked hard. But when the day’s over, I have to be able to try to get away so it doesn’t drive me crazy.”

His priorities have worked so well, that Sloan has cheated what has historically been a cruel system of NBA coaching changes.

“What happens in this business so frequently, is that four or five games a team starts to struggle and people start talking about firing the coach,” said Sloan. “I’ve seen hundreds of coaches fired over the years that I’ve been here – that destroys a team.”

And while Sloan’s estimate of coaching changes may seem high, he isn’t off by much. Since December 8, 1988, when he was named head coach of the Jazz, there have been 154 coaching moves by NBA teams. During that time span the Nuggets and Clippers have each gone through a league high 10 coaches. The Jazz have had only six coaches since the team’s first season in 1974.

Kevin O’Connor has a simple explanation for Sloan’s tenure. “He’s not a good coach, he’s a great coach” said O’Connor “A Hall of Fame coach, and those are they guys that stick.”

A SEASON OF UNKNOWNS

After the Sacramento Kings ousted the Jazz in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season, Sloan’s decision to continue coaching this season was a choice Jazz management was happy to hear.

"It is so important to have continuity and to be able to have stability and certainty Jerry brings both of those to the table for us," said, O'Connor.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Sloan entered the season surrounded by low expectations. Most predicted the team’s 19-year playoff streak would end, while others expected the Jazz to break the NBA’s all-time record for losses in a season.

After playing almost 50 games, Sloan has kept the Jazz above .500 and made believers out of local and national media – despite the team’s accumulation of injuries.

“Never underestimate Jerry Sloan's greatness,” warned Rockets Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy after a game against the Jazz early in the season. “ I would be a season-ticket holder if I lived in Salt Lake City."

Coaching veteran Hubie Brown of the Memphis Grizzlies knew Sloan was the right person to lead the rebuilding Jazz into a new era all along.

“Jerry is a no-nonsense person who is going to get the maximum out of these young kids,” said Brown. “They are doing a terrific job.”