Utah Jazz sign HC Will Hardy to contract extension through 2031 season. This is a clear indication of their faith and commitment to Hardy as he looks to guide the team through its rebuilding process. Hardy, 37, was brought in before the 2022-23 NBA season. Today, he finds himself leading that same team through another formative developmental stage.
In his three seasons with Utah, Hardy has put together an 85-161 record, including zero appearances in the playoffs. Like his predecessor, this season the Jazz finished fifth in the Northwest Division with a dismal 17-65 record, which was last in the entire NBA. Even with these hurdles, the franchise still has reason to be hopeful about its future with Hardy in charge.
Prior to his arrival to the Jazz, Hardy put together an impressive coaching resume. He was an assistant under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs and Ime Udoka with the Boston Celtics. His success was most marked by his appearance in the NBA Finals in his one and only season with the Celtics in 2022.
Jazz CEO Ryan Smith expressed confidence in Hardy’s capabilities, stating, “Will is a great leader, communicator, and ambassador for our organization, and is a tremendous partner to [CEO Danny Ainge], [GM Justin Zanik], and me.” Smith emphasized the team’s long-term vision: “Our goal is to hang a banner, and Will is a huge part of this journey.”
Reflecting on his extension, Hardy stated, “This is an incredible franchise. To be able to be committed to the next phase of our process is hard to explain. Moments like this are very surreal. I’m so excited.”
The Jazz leaders considered this extension an essential step. It’s an essential part of creating a championship-caliber team to compete at the highest level. Under Hardy’s leadership, they want to provide an environment for player development, while setting themselves up to be successful in the future.
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