A bright, young candidate has given the Utah Jazz a strong impression for their ongoing coaching hunt.
Will Hardy has emerged as a “leading candidate” to take Utah’s open coaching core (h/t Andy Larsen of Salt Lake Tribune). Hardy, 34, is a current assistant coach under Ime Udoka in the Boston Celtics.
Hardy started his professional stint beyond the sidelines in 2013 as a video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs. Along with Udoka, he then became an assistant from the guidance of Gregg Popovich within the franchise.
He was then tapped by Udoka last year to become one of his top assistants in his first year in Boston, which turned out to be a successful one after the recent Finals run.
According to league insider Marc Stein, there are “rising expectations” that Jazz top executive Danny Ainge prefers to land a “young, first-time coach” to lead them after the resignation of Quin Snyder. As such, Hardy fits into this, as he is one of the most promising minds in the league today.
Other than Hardy, Phoenix Suns assistant and Salt Lake City native Kevin Young is gaining consideration for the said vacant position.
