SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – Jerry Sloan, enshrined as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, has passed away at the age of 78.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame Family celebrates the life and sincerely mourns the passing of long-time Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Coach Sloan was well-respected in the NBA as a loyal, winning, no-nonsense leader. With Hall of Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone on his team, Jerry Sloan coached some of the most memorable basketball matchups of the 90’s and early 2000’s. He will surely be missed by the basketball community.”
After an 11-year professional playing career, Sloan joined the coaching ranks with the Chicago Bulls. Sloan went on to serve as the head coach of the Utah Jazz for 23 years, and a member of the organization for more than 30. One of the game’s most successful coaches at any level, Sloan is one of two NBA coaches to record 1,000 wins with the same franchise. He is one of only seven coaches in NBA history to win at least 50 games in 10 or more seasons, also leading the Jazz to 15 consecutive playoff appearances from 1988 to 2003. His winning record may only be surpassed by his loyalty and dedication to the Utah Jazz franchise. Sloan was enshrined in the Hall of Fame with the iconic Class of 2009.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.