Frank Layden

Frank Layden
Layden, circa 1988
Personal information
Born(1932-01-05)January 5, 1932
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 9, 2025(2025-07-09) (aged 93)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Career information
High schoolFort Hamilton
(Brooklyn, New York)
CollegeNiagara (1950–1953)
Coaching career1968–1988
Career history
Coaching
1968–1976Niagara
1976–1979Atlanta Hawks (assistant)
1981–1988Utah Jazz
1998–1999Utah Starzz
Career highlights
As coach
As executive
Career coaching record
NBA277–294 (.485)
WNBA4–11 (.267)
Record at Basketball Reference 

Francis Patrick Layden (January 5, 1932 – July 9, 2025) was an American basketball coach and executive for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was named both the NBA Coach of the Year and NBA Executive of the Year in 1984. Layden was also head coach of the Utah Starzz of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Early life

Layden grew up in Brooklyn and was an All-City basketball and baseball player at Fort Hamilton High School.[1] He played three seasons of varsity basketball and baseball at Niagara University.[2]

Coaching career

Early career

Layden was the head baseball coach at his alma mater, Niagara University, from 1953 to 1955, and compiled a record of 15–15–1.[3] He also spent one season as freshman basketball coach.[2] In 1957, he was hired to teach social studies and coach junior varsity football, baseball, and basketball coach at St. Agnes High School in Rockville Centre, New York.[4] In 1960, he became head basketball coach at Seton Hall High School in Patchogue, New York.[2] In 1966, he became athletic director at Adelphi Suffolk College.[5]

Niagara (1968–1976)

In 1968, Layden was named varsity basketball coach at Niagara.[6] He compiled a 119-97 record over eight seasons, including two NIT appearances (1972 and 1976) and the school's first trip to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament (1970). His Niagara players included Calvin Murphy, Marshall Wingate, and Andy Walker.[7]

Atlanta Hawks (1976–1979)

In 1976, Layden was hired to be an assistant coach with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks joining former Niagara teammate Hubie Brown.[7] He also served as the team's director of player personnel.[8]

Utah Jazz (1981–1988)

In 1979, Layden was hired to be the general manager of the then New Orleans Jazz.[8] In December 1981, he replaced Tom Nissalke as head coach after the team got off to a 8–12 start.[9]

Layden was responsible for drafting and developing franchise mainstays Darrell Griffith, Mark Eaton, John Stockton, and Karl Malone, and trading for Adrian Dantley. The Jazz made the playoffs every season from 1984 to 1988.[10] In 1984, Layden was awarded the NBA's Coach of the Year, the NBA's Executive of the Year, and the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Awards.[11]

In 1986, Layden was given the title of vice president of basketball operations and continued to make player personnel decisions.[12] The following season, he was succeeded as general manager by team president Dave Checketts.[13] Layden intended on retiring after the 1988–89 season, but resigned on December 9, 1988, citing job pressure and abuse from fans. At the time of his resignation, the Jazz had an 11–6 record and were leading the Midwest Division. He was succeeded by assistant coach Jerry Sloan.[14] He remained with the Jazz as team president until his retirement on December 28, 1999.[15]

Utah Starzz (1998–1999)

In 1998, Layden returned to coaching with the Utah Starzz of the Women's National Basketball Association, replacing Denise Taylor after a 6-13 start.[16] The team won 2 of its 11 games after Layden took over. He returned for the 1999 season, but resigned after four games. He was replaced by assistant and former USC Trojans women's basketball coach Fred Williams.[17]

Retirement and death

Layden continued to live with his wife, Barbara, in Salt Lake City, where he died on July 9, 2025, at the age of 93.[18]

Head coaching record

NBA

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Utah 1981–82 62 17 45 .274 6th in Midwest – – – – Missed Playoffs
Utah 1982–83 82 30 52 .366 5th in Midwest – – – – Missed Playoffs
Utah 1983–84 82 45 37 .549 1st in Midwest 11 5 6 .455 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Utah 1984–85 82 41 41 .500 4th in Midwest 10 4 6 .400 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Utah 1985–86 82 42 40 .512 4th in Midwest 4 1 3 .250 Lost in First round
Utah 1986–87 82 44 38 .537 2nd in Midwest 5 2 3 .400 Lost in First round
Utah 1987–88 82 47 35 .573 3rd in Midwest 11 6 5 .545 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Utah 1988–89 17 11 6 .647 (resigned) – – – – –
Career 571 277 294 .485 41 18 23 .439

WNBA

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Utah 1998 11 2 9 .182 5th in West – – – – Missed Playoffs
Utah 1999 4 2 2 .500 (resigned) – – – – –
Career 15 4 11 .267

References

  1. ^ Furman, Andy (July 21, 2025). "Frank Layden: The king of one-liners". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Schunk, Phil (December 1, 1960). "New Coach Shapes Up Seton Five". The Patchogue Advance. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  3. ^ 2025 Niagara Baseball Record Book (PDF). Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  4. ^ "250 Freshmen To Enter High School At St. Agnes". The Long Island News and The Owl. August 30, 1957. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  5. ^ "Name Seton Dean of Boys Adelphi Athletic Director". The Long Island Advance. June 2, 1966. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  6. ^ "Niagara Turns To Frank Layden". Toledo Blade. January 13, 1968. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Layden named Hawks' assistant". Gadsden Times. July 22, 1976. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Jazz Hires Layden". The Albany Herald. May 10, 1979. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  9. ^ "Jazz Names Frank Layden". Youngstown Vindicator. December 11, 1981. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  10. ^ Baer, Jack (July 9, 2025). "Former Jazz head coach and GM Frank Layden, who drafted Karl Malone and John Stockton, dies at 93". Yahoo. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  11. ^ Spyropoulos, Eric (July 9, 2025). "Honoring Frank Layden, A Foundational Figure for the Utah Jazz". Utah Jazz | NBA.com. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  12. ^ Kragthorpe, Kurt (May 6, 1986). "Jazz make it official: Layden will stay as coach". The Deseret News. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  13. ^ "Utah Jazz president Checketts given general manager duties". Gainesville Sun. June 16, 1987. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  14. ^ Howard-Cooper, Soctt (December 10, 1988). "Layden Quits as Jazz Coach : He Cites Pressure as Reason for Surprise Move". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  15. ^ Buckley, Tim (December 29, 1999). "Jazz coaches filled with respect for Layden". The Deseret News. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  16. ^ "Layden to coach Utah Starzz". The Madison Courier. July 28, 1998. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  17. ^ "Coach Layden Leaves Starzz". CBS News. June 21, 1999. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  18. ^ "Frank Layden, Larger Than Life Utah Jazz Coach, Passes Away At 93". KSL Sports. July 9, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
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