Frank Layden, the charismatic coach and executive who helped shape the Utah Jazz into an NBA powerhouse, died Wednesday at age 93. No cause of death was announced.
A Brooklyn native, Layden joined the Jazz as general manager in 1979 after their move from New Orleans to Salt Lake City, becoming head coach in 1981. He led the franchise to its first-ever playoff appearance in 1984 and was named both NBA Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year that same season.
“There will never be another like him,” the Jazz posted on X. “Our thoughts go out to his family as we join in mourning his loss and celebrating his life.”
Before his NBA success, Layden coached eight seasons at Niagara University, his alma mater, guiding the school to its first NCAA tournament in 1970. He entered the NBA as an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks in 1976.
As GM, Layden drafted two future Hall of Famers: Karl Malone (1984) and John Stockton (1985), who would become the faces of the Jazz and lead them to long-term success.
He stepped down as head coach in 1988 but remained as team president and GM, clearing the path for Jerry Sloan’s historic run to back-to-back NBA Finals in the late ’90s.
Layden also briefly coached the WNBA’s Utah Starzz and worked as a consultant for the Knicks while his son Scott Layden served as GM.
Known for his larger-than-life personality and deep loyalty, Layden left a lasting legacy in Utah and across the basketball world.