As the Utah Jazz celebrate their 50th anniversary this season, it’s a great time to reflect on the long and proud history of the nine coaches who’ve been the leading man of the Jazz.
From Scotty Robertson in 1974 to Will Hardy in 2022, the Jazz have been blessed with some of the greatest coaches in league history throughout their rich history. Read below for a look back at each coach, and see how the Jazz got to this point in history.
1.) Scotty Robertson | 1974
Although he lasted only 15 games, Robertson will always get credit as the first leading man of the organization.
One of his generation's best college coaches, Robertson led his alma mater at Louisiana Tech to a 165-82 overall record, including a 74-26 showing in conference play.
After leaving college for a job in New Orleans with the Jazz, Robertson led the team for 15 games before he was let go. He then returned to the NBA as the head coach of the Bulls during the 1978-79 season. After a year off, Robertson was hired as Detroit's head coach. He also served as an assistant coach for Indiana, San Antonio, Phoenix, and Miami.
Before starting his coaching career, Robertson was a two-sport athlete at C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, LA. He attended the University of Texas after high school before transferring to Louisiana Tech and graduating. A talented baseball player, Robertson played baseball in the Chicago White Sox organization before finding his calling as a basketball coach.
After a long battle with lung cancer, Robertson passed away in 2011 at 81 in Ruston, Louisiana.
ACCOLADES
- 3x Gulf States Conference Champion (1967, 1970, 1971)
- 2x Gulf States Conference Coach of the Year (1967, 1971)
- Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
- Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame
- NBA Coach of the Month (November, 1982)
COACHING RECORD
NCAA Basketball
- Louisiana Tech | 165-82
NBA
- New Orleans Jazz | 1-14
- Chicago | 11-15
- Detroit | 97-149
CAREER: 109-178 | .380 winning percentage