O'Connor

SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 9, 2001) -- Utah Jazz President Dennis Haslam announced today the team has extended the contract of Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin O'Connor. As per club policy, terms of the new contact were not released.

"This is an example to the club's commitment to Kevin, his integrity and all that he has brought to us," Haslam said. *It is also a commitment to the future of the Jazz organization when we will be under going some changes and we need an architect to help us make those changes and Kevin's the man."

Also attending the press conference were Jazz owner Larry H. Miller and Head Coach Jerry Sloan.

"I fully expect that Kevin and Jerry [Sloan] will be with the team as long as they choose to be - I figure that they are both good for another 20 years," Miller said. "Kevin, I can truly tell you that the dimension that you have brought with you to the Jazz is one that I think is wonderful. I could not have imagined getting somebody that is the kind of fit for this organization that you've been and I appreciate what you've been."

Jerry Sloan added, "I'm excited for our coaching staff and all the people we work with. I don't think we could have anyone come in here and do a job that is very difficult and to be able to get a long with us. We are so excited for the fact that he's going to be here with this organization, I think that speaks volumes for the organization. He knows what's going on in the game of basketball. He knows what the coaches are going through and what the players are going through. I know the coaching staff is excited to have him back for a long period of time."

O'Connor is his third Jazz season, joining the organization on Aug. 26, 1999. Previously, he spent two seasons as director of player personnel for the Philadelphia 76ers. The 55-year-old O'Connor served as a scout for the Jazz from 1994-97 after scouting for the New Jersey Nets (1990-94), the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Since joining the Jazz he has been responsible for signing free agents John Amaechi, John Crotty and John Starks, along with engineering the trade for Donyell Marshall, plus drafting DeShawn Stevenson and Jarron Collins.

Born in the Bronx, O'Connor grew up in Staten Island, New York, and has been associated with winning teams at several levels. Prior to working with the Jazz during its run to the 1997 NBA Finals, O'Connor served as an assistant coach to Larry Brown at UCLA in 1980 when the Bruins advanced to the NCAA championship game. He was an assistant at Virginia Military Institute when it made an improbable run to the Elite Eight of the 1976 NCAA Tournament, and he helped coach Virginia Tech to a 22-5 record and the 1973 NIT Championship.

O'Connor joined Brown for the 1979-80 season, spending two seasons on his staff. He remained as an assistant coach at UCLA through 1983-84. In addition to stints at Virginia Tech (1972-74) and VMI (1974-76). O'Connor also served as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado (1976-79). O'Connor, who served in the U.S. Army from 1969-71, obtained degrees in economics and business in 1969 from Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina and captained the basketball team to a 21-5 record his senior year. He currently serves on the nine-member USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee.