Frank Layden, known around Utah for his impact in the basketball community, has died at the age of 93.
Layden passed away Wednesday, the Deseret News confirmed. ABC 4’s Wesley Ruff was the first to report the news.
The enigmatic Layden was born in Brooklyn in 1932 and began his coaching career at nearby Niagara University in New York. After eight years there, he spent 1976-79 with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks as an assistant coach.
Soon thereafter, Layden became a well-known figure in Utah.
He was named general manager of the New Orleans Jazz in 1979, then was named head coach of the Jazz, which had then moved to Salt Lake City, in 1981.
For the next eight years, Layden was head coach and GM of Utah’s NBA franchise, as he replaced Tom Nissalke as head coach.
“Layden became one of the most famous coaches in Jazz history due to his ability to connect with his players, fans and his community,” the Jazz noted back in 2023, in honoring him as one of the franchise’s best coaches.
He was named the NBA Coach of the Year in 1984, and was also honored as the NBA Executive of the Year that same season.
Layden went 277-294 during the regular season as the Jazz’s head coach. Under Layden, Utah made the playoffs five times, reaching the conference semifinals three times.
One of his greatest accomplishments as an NBA executive with the Jazz was drafting Hall of Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone in back-to-back years, turning the franchise into a perennial playoff contender and eventually leading the Jazz to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998.
When Layden stepped away from coaching, he stayed on with Utah as an executive — serving as the team’s president and general manager — and was instrumental in hiring his replacement, the late Jerry Sloan, who led those Jazz teams to the NBA Finals.
Layden briefly made a return to coaching in the late 1990s, coaching the WNBA’s Utah Starzz in 1998 and part of 1999, before retiring.
Though he stepped away from the game at that time, Layden didn’t shy away from sharing his humor and exuberant personality in the Utah community over the past two-plus decades.
“One thing I try to emphasize is it should be fun,” he told the Deseret News in 2014. “Anything you do. If you go to school, it should be fun; if you go to work, it should be fun. And then you work and each day there should be some satisfaction that you accomplished something.”
The Jazz organization issued two statements later Wednesday regarding Layden’s legacy.
From Ryan & Ashley Smith, owners of the Utah Jazz:
“It’s hard to imagine the story of the Utah Jazz without the presence of Frank Layden. 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. Frank was known for his enthusiasm, commitment and humor, but his impact on Utah extended far beyond the court thanks to his generosity and community outreach efforts that made such a difference in people’s lives. We are so grateful for all of the dedication, passion, and energy he put into helping make the Jazz who we are today. He will be missed by many, and we send our love to his family, especially to his wife Barbara, who was always by his side.”
From the Utah Jazz organization:
“Frank Layden will always be an iconic figure in Utah Jazz history for the pivotal role he played in shaping the franchise as a coach, general manager, and president across a two-decade span. Frank coached the Jazz to their first five playoff appearances, and he had the distinction of drafting two future Hall of Famers and naming a third Hall of Famer as the coach to replace him. Frank accomplished so much in the sport of basketball – all with a sense of self-deprecating humor and lightheartedness that made him a colorful character who was beloved by all. The Jazz join his family, friends, and fans in mourning his loss and express endless gratitude for his invaluable contributions.”