Sources: Hardy secures 5-year deal to coach Jazz
Adrian Wojnarowski details Celtics assistant Will Hardy’s expected deal to become the next coach of the Jazz. (0:59)
The Utah Jazz and Will Hardy have agreed in principle on a five-year deal making the former Boston Celtics assistant the franchise’s next head coach, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Hardy, 34, will be the youngest active head coach in the NBA.
Hardy was one of four finalists who met with ownership in Salt Lake this week, including Celtics assistant Joe Mazzulla, Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin and Jazz assistant Alex Jensen, sources said.
The Jazz, led by new CEO Danny Ainge, conducted an extensive search that included at least 15 candidates to replace Quin Snyder, who resigned earlier this month. After taking over a rebuilding team, Snyder had a 372-264 record during his eight-season tenure in Utah, which has an active six-year postseason streak but did not advance past the Western Conference semifinals in that span.
Hardy spent one season with the Celtics as an assistant coach under Ime Udoka, helping Boston advance to the NBA Finals.
Hardy, who played at Division III Williams College, began his career as a video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs before being promoted to an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich. He also served as the head coach of San Antonio’s summer league team for four years.
The Jazz are also making a front-office hire, as David Fizdale has agreed to become an associate general manager, sources told Wojnarowski.
After 18 seasons as an NBA head coach and assistant coach, Fizdale will move into management and work closely with Ainge and GM Justin Zanik.