Music to his ears: Jazz and Layden reunite

Layden’s last job in the NBA was as President and GM of the New York Knicks, but he was fired from that post during the 2003-04 season after spending four- plus years with the team. The move also reunites him with Jerry Sloan, who has handled Utah’s head coaching duties since the 1988-89 campaign.

"I am really pleased to make this announcement," said Sloan. "Scott has an extensive amount of basketball knowledge and will bring a great deal to our coaching staff."

A native New Yorker, Layden spent 18 years with Utah in various capacities from scout, assistant coach, and vice president of basketball operations.

He is responsible for drafting Future Hall-of-Fame players in point guard John Stockton (1984) and power forward Karl Malone (1985) in successive drafts. The two players, along with Sloan, helped solidify a once dismal franchise into a perennial winner.

Layden was also responsible for pulling a trade-deadline deal that brought in sharpshooter Jeff Hornacek, who teamed up brilliantly with Stockton and Malone, helping the franchise reach the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals — both losses to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

Layden, who is the son of former Utah head coach Frank Layden, has not been on the bench in 15 years.

The Jazz missed their second straight postseason in 2005 after making the playoffs in the 20 previous seasons.