- Frank Layden
Frank Layden is a former coach and executive of the
NBA 'sUtah Jazz , in addition to being a former coach and player withNiagara University . He coached Niagara to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 1968, with the help ofCalvin Murphy . In 1976 he was hired to be an assistant coach with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks joining former Niagara teamate Hubie Brown. In 1979 he was hired to be the General Manager of the then New Orleans Jazz, and became the head coach of the Jazz (now inSalt Lake City ) in 1981, replacingTom Nissalke . He would be the coach of the Jazz for the next seven and a half years. He was instrumental in signingKarl Malone to the club. He retired from coaching during the 1988-1989 season, moving into the team's front office. (He was replaced as coach byJerry Sloan .)In 1984, Layden was the NBA's Coach of the Year. He also has won NBA Executive of the Year and the NBA's
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (He and Joe O'Toole are the only non-players in NBA history to win the award).He retired from the Jazz in 1998, and served briefly as a consultant for the
New York Knicks , where his sonScott Layden served as general manager for a time.Layden has long been known for his sense of humor, for which he was hired to be the co-host of two volumes of
Dazzling Dunks And Basketball Bloopers , produced byNBA Entertainment in 1989. He is one of the most quotable figures in basketball.He continues to live in
Salt Lake City , where he is a local icon.External links
* [http://www.databasebasketball.com/coaches/coachpage.htm?coachid=LAYDEFR01 DatabaseBasketball.com: Frank Layden]
* [http://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/2000/frank_layden.html] Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame: Frank Layden]
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