Sports

Legendary Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan Dead At Age 78

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Just two days after Karl Malone urged the public to “pray for Jerry Sloan” in the midst of the former Jazz coach’s declining health, it has since been reported that Sloan has passed away Friday at age 78.

Sloan, a Hall of Famer and one of the most accomplished coaches in NBA history, has been out of the public eye since 2015, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy body dementia.

Gordon Monson of the Salt Lake Tribune reported in 2019 that Sloan was “frail” and “mentally limited” and required 24-hour care.

Sloan resume, both as player and coach, is just absurd:

  • Fourth on the all-time wins list with 1,221 wins.
  • One of two coaches in NBA history to record 1,000 wins with one team.
  • He is one of only three coaches in NBA history to win at least 50 games in 10 or more seasons.
  • He led the Jazz to 15 consecutive playoff appearances from 1988 to 2003.

Former NBA commissioner David Stern referred to Sloan as “one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history.”

He is survived by his three children.

Rest easy, legend.

Matt Keohan Avatar
Matt’s love of writing was born during a sixth grade assembly when it was announced that his essay titled “Why Drugs Are Bad” had taken first prize in D.A.R.E.’s grade-wide contest. The anti-drug people gave him a $50 savings bond for his brave contribution to crime-fighting, and upon the bond’s maturity 10 years later, he used it to buy his very first bag of marijuana.