Jazz hire Will Hardy as HC, David Fizdale as associate GM

Celtics assistant Will Hardy has landed the Jazz's head-coaching job. Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Jazz hire former Celtics assistant Will Hardy as next head coach, David Fizdale as associate GM

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 6/28/22

The Utah Jazz ended their lengthy and wide-ranging head-coaching search on Tuesday. They didn't stop there, reportedly making a move in the front office as well.

Will Hardy and the Jazz are finalizing a five-year contract to make him the franchise's next coach, sources tell ESPN. Hardy, 34, will be the youngest active coach in the NBA. https://t.co/uISUNbadGJ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2022

The Jazz are making a hire to the front office too: David Fizdale has agreed to become an associate GM, sources tell ESPN. After 18 seasons as an NBA head and assistant coach, Fizdale will move into management and work closely with GM Justin Zanik and CEO Danny Ainge with Jazz.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2022

Will Hardy — who served as Celtics head coach Ime Udoka's top assistant for one season — was part of a group of finalists for the gig that also included Boston assistant Joe Mazzulla, Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin and Jazz assistant Alex Jensen, according to Wojnarowski. The 34-year-old played Division III basketball at Williams College and began his post-playing career as a video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs before being promoted to an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich.

Fizdale spent the 2021-22 campaign as an assistant on the Los Angeles Lakers' bench, but he was dismissed by new head coach Darvin Ham in early June. The 48-year-old hasn't held an NBA front-office role, but has nearly two decades of coaching experience in the association.

Fizdale had roles as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat from 2003 to 2016, before landing his first head-coaching gig with the Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the 2016-17 season. In one-plus year with Memphis, Fizdale led the team to a 50-51 regular-season mark and 2-4 record in the playoffs.

He was hired as the head coach of the New York Knicks in May 2018, and in one-plus seasons with the group, the Knicks went 21-83.

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