After eight seasons with the Utah Jazz, Quin Snyder has decided to resign from the position of head coach. During his time with the Jazz, Snyder led the team to six straight playoff births, although they failed to reach the Western Conference Finals. He leaves the team as their second-winningest Head Coach of all time, behind only the great Jerry Sloan.
“I am incredibly grateful to have spent the last eight years with such a respected and historic organization and in the beautiful, kind, supportive community of Salt Lake City. I could not have asked for better owners in the Miller family and with Ryan and Ashley.”
Quin Snyder
While Snyder is a great defensive Head Coach, it was clear that this team couldn’t get past the second round. The reason for this was Utah’s two All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Both are lethal by themselves; Mitchell is a great shooter and athletic finisher, while Gobert is a multiple time Defensive Player of the Year. However, since Gobert takes up such a lion’s share of the minutes at center, Utah isn’t able to play successful small ball lineups, and teams such as the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets have been able to take advantage of this in years past.
Utah hasn’t been improving, and while they’re a fabulous regular season team, it simply doesn’t convert to the postseason. I wouldn’t be surprised to see either Mitchell or Gobert leave this offseason; it’s simply a matter of which one Utah prioritizes. Right now, it looks like the player headed out could be Mitchell, who has recently expressed his concerns with Snyder leaving the team. Either way, Snyder did a fabulous job with this team, and it likely won’t be long before he receives another job offer.
“Quin Snyder has embodied what Jazz basketball is for the last eight years. The tireless work ethic and attention to detail Quin displayed each day is a testament to the professional he is. I have nothing but admiration for Quin and respect his decision. On behalf of Ashley and I, along with our ownership group and our entire organization, we thank Quin and Amy from the bottom of our hearts for all of their contributions to the state of Utah, and the Jazz and wish them nothing but the best.”
Ryan Smith, Jazz Owner
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