NBA fans react as Will Hardy reaches five-year agreement to coach Utah Jazz
Will Hardy and the Utah Jazz have reached an agreement in principle on a five-year contract that will make the former assistant coach for the Boston Celtics the Utah-based team’s new head coach, sources informed ESPN’s, Adrian Wojnarowski.
Hardy, 34, will be the NBA’s youngest head coach currently in employment. According to insiders, Hardy, Jazz assistant Alex Jensen, Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, and Celtics assistant Joe Mazzulla were the four contenders who met with ownership this week in Salt Lake City.
Will Hardy: “The Utah Jazz are one of the most respected and successful franchises in the NBA and the fan base here is legendary. This opportunity comes with tremendous responsibility. I’m grateful for the trust the Jazz have placed in me and I look forward to the work ahead.”
— Ryan Miller (@millerjryan) June 29, 2022
Quin Snyder, who left earlier this month, was replaced by the Jazz after a thorough search that included at least 15 applicants, under the direction of new CEO Danny Ainge. In his eight seasons with Utah, which has a current six-year postseason streak, the Jazz haven’t progressed past the Western Conference semifinals in that time. Snyder had a 372-264 record after taking over a rebuilding squad.
In an “extensive” coaching search that included past head coaches, top assistants, G League coaches, and former players, Charania adds that Hardy stood out above the rest for C’s president-turned-Jazz CEO Danny Ainge. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Joe Mazzulla, a Celtics assistant, was a finalist for the position.
Will Hardy has a lot of experience despite his age because he trained with the San Antonio Spurs for a number of years under the great head coach Gregg Popovich. The Williams College graduate worked four seasons as an assistant on Popovich’s staff before serving as the Spurs’ video coordinator from 2013 to 2015. At the 2019 FIBA World Cup, he worked with Udoka as a member of the coaching staff for Team USA.
Hardy, a Division III Williams College graduate, started his career as the San Antonio Spurs’ video coordinator before being elevated to assistant coach status under Gregg Popovich. He also spent four years as the summer league team’s head coach in San Antonio. Sources told Wojnarowski that David Fizdale has decided to accept the position of assistant general manager with the Jazz.
NBA fans react to Will Hardy’s appointment as new Utah Jazz coach
“Will Hardy was on the staff for 365 days, barely-there when Ainge was there, relax lol”, one fan reacted on Twitter. Another fan tweeted, “Will Hardy was going to get a job with some organization very soon. I think it was smart for the Jazz to scoop him up while they could.”
Here are some of the fan reactions to Will Hardy’s recruitment as Jazz HC-
Will Hardy was my pick for a new coach since *before* Quin stepped down.
Hardy is going to impress Jazz fans.
— JazzFFL (@d_timpson) June 29, 2022
And this isn’t an anti-Will Hardy tweet. He might end up being great. But we all know that a 34 year POC or female candidate with this resume would be laughed out of the room.
And, I’m just going to say, it’s no surprise which organization hired the white man with this resume.
— “The Great Negro” (@tribeoc) June 29, 2022
I get this, but Hardy was being talked about before the move to Boston from San Antonio. It makes sense that having one year as lead assistant will get him a head coaching job. However why didn’t Becky Hammon get a job since she was lead assistant above Hardy and Udoka?
— Johnathan Mcfarland (@A_YOUTH_AUTOPSY) June 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/TrustTrost/status/1542164121789124608
LOCKED ON JAZZ is live on @YouTube
New Utah Jazz Head Coach Will Hardy:
What formed him, influences, style of play and coaching staffhttps://t.co/IRFvEJaqo7 via @YouTube
— David Locke (@DLocke09) June 29, 2022
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