Frank Layden, the beloved and quick-witted former head coach who guided the Utah Jazz to their first-ever playoff appearance, has passed away at the age of 93.
“Frank Layden made a lasting impact on the Jazz, the state of Utah, and the NBA,” the Jazz organization shared in a statement on Wednesday. “There will never be another like him. Our thoughts go out to his family as we join in mourning his loss and celebrating his life. Rest easy, Coach.”
Layden was known just as much for his humor and colorful sideline personality as for his coaching success. Leading the Jazz from 1981 to 1989, he recorded 277 wins—ranking third in franchise history. In 1984, he became the only Jazz coach ever to win NBA Coach of the Year, a season in which he was also named Executive of the Year.
He was famous for his sharp one-liners. Speaking about a problematic player, Layden once joked, “I told him, ‘Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?’ He said ‘Coach, I don’t know and I don’t care.’” His self-deprecating humor also stood out. Referring to his lifelong struggle with weight, he once quipped, “I stepped on a scale that gives fortunes and the card read ‘Come back in 15 minutes alone.’”
Born in Brooklyn in 1932, Layden began coaching at the high school level before returning to his alma mater, Niagara University. His NBA career started in 1976 as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks under Hubie Brown. In 1979, he became the general manager of the New Orleans Jazz and moved with the team to Salt Lake City.
After head coach Tom Nissalke was dismissed midway through the 1981–82 season, Layden stepped in and, within a year, led the team to its first postseason appearance. He retired from coaching early in the 1988–89 season, passing the reins to Jerry Sloan, who would go on to become a Hall of Famer.
Layden stayed with the Jazz as team president and general manager and played a key role in building the team’s legendary core, including selecting Hall of Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone. In 1998–99, he briefly returned to the bench to coach the WNBA’s Utah Starzz.
“It’s hard to imagine the story of the Utah Jazz without the presence of Frank Layden,” said team owners Ryan and Ashley Smith. “He was an amazing person who meant so much to this organization and to our fans. His love of the sport was felt around the NBA, and he set the franchise on a course for success, helping to build an enduring legacy for the state of Utah.”
After retiring from basketball, Layden remained in the Salt Lake City area and received the NBA’s Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
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