Jerry Sloan is Packing it In

It has been reported in NBA Basketball news that Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is resigning. He has been the longest serving head couch in the four major North American professional sports. The resignation was scheduled to happen on Thursday. The relevant report was filed in the Salt Lake Tribune. At 68 years, Sloan has been a steady hand for the teams that he has been looking after. He was head coach for the team since 1988. That is an entire generation of NBA Basketball players. It also means that he is in an ideal position to determine some of the most important changes in the game.
An astounding career in NBA Basketball
It is not often that you get a coach of the caliber that Jerry Sloan brought to the table. This development was a surprise to many given the longevity of his tenure but on the other hand some people might argue that it was to be expected in the circumstances. He had been working on that team for ages and something was bound to give at some stage. There were reportedly long discussions behind the door before the decision was made. Kevin O’Connor, the general manager of the team was involved in the discussions as well. The Utah Jazz had lost by 91-86 against the Chicago Bulls. That might have been one of the considerations that led to this decision. In any case it was pretty clear that the results of the game were not as impressive as expected and that something might have to give in the negotiations.
After the meeting Sloan was reported to be visibly shaken. He was not willing to discuss the details of the meeting or any of the conclusions that had been made. Perhaps it was reasonable to conclude that the meeting did not go well. This was on the back of an agreement in principle early in the month. He was going to coach the team through the 2011 December season but it appears that all that is off the table now. Interestingly Sloan has also coached the Chicago Bulls before. He holds a career record of 1221-803, which is fairly impressive. He is currently the only NBA Basketball coach to win one thousand games during tenure with a single franchise. The Utah Jazz was currently 31-23 in this season. They have refused to confirm or deny the rumors but have promised to make a significant announcement soon.