SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz will stay in-house to replace longtime trainer Gary Briggs.
Brian Zettler, who's been Briggs' assistant, has been promoted to the role of Jazz head athletic trainer, multiple sources confirmed to the Deseret News.
Nick Asay, son of team photographer Brent Asay, will be Zettler's assistant after also receiving a promotion. Adam Klauke, was dad Steve is the longtime radio voice of the Salt Lake Bees, will take over Zettler's duties as the team's equipment manager.
Zettler has been working the professional basketball ranks for 18 years, including as the Jazz's assistant athletic trainer and equipment manager for the past 12 years. He previously assisted the Dallas Cowboys' training staff for four years and was the vice president of the Arena Football Physician and Trainers Association while working as the Dallas Desperados' trainer.
Before joining the Jazz, Zettler gained NBA training experience with the Dallas Mavericks from 1997 until 2003. He's also been on the training staff for NBA Basketball Without Borders in Spain (2009), Africa (2011) and Rome (2013).
Zettler will become just the fourth head athletic trainer in Jazz history when he officially takes over in July after Briggs' contract expires.
Briggs oversaw the Jazz's training staff since 2000 and remarkably worked 3,013 of a possible 3,014 preseason, regular season and postseason games in his NBA training career.
"While we may be losing a valued member of our day-to-day operations, Gary Briggs will forever remain a member of the Jazz family," Jazz president Randy Rigby said in April when Briggs' retirement was announced. "We have been very fortunate to have 'Briggsy' on our staff these past 15 years. He’s become a valued member of the community and we’ve enjoyed watching his family grow in our state."
Zettler has a pair of college degrees from Texas A&M (bachelor's) and North Texas (master's) and received his athletic trainer certification through the National Athletic Trainers Association program.
In 2013, Zettler, who has a wife (Hope) and four children, was named the Man of the Year for his efforts working on behalf of Utah's Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He helps sponsor a scholarship for students in his hometown of Waxahachie, Texas, who demonstrate excellence in sports, schoolwork and in that community. He was elected to the inaugural Waxahachie High School Athletic Hall of Fame class in 2012.
Asay and Klauke, both University of Utah graduates, have also been with the Jazz for years.
Asay was on the Jazz's athletic training staff the past two years and was also the Herriman High head athletic trainer from 2011-14. He has also had stints as the trainer for the Utah Flash (2007-09) and the University of Utah baseball team (2004-06).
Klauke has grown up in the Jazz and Bees organizations. Most recently, he's been the team's assistant equipmentmanager and the Zions Bank Basketball Center facility coordinator. He spent 12 seasons with the Bees, beginning as a bat boy and program seller. He was also an assistant clubhouse manager for eight years.
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