Frank Layden
Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| High school | Fort Hamilton (Brooklyn, New York) |
| College | Niagara (1950–1953) |
| Coaching career | 1968–1988 |
| Career history | |
| As a coach: | |
| 1968–1976 | Niagara |
| 1976–1979 | Atlanta Hawks (assistant) |
| 1981–1988 | Utah Jazz |
| 1998–1999 | Utah Starzz |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As coach:
As executive:
| |
| Career coaching record | |
| NBA | 277–294 (.485) |
| WNBA | 4–11 (.267) |
| Record at Basketball Reference | |
Francis Patrick Layden (born January 5, 1932, in
College career
Layden attended Niagara from 1950 to 1953.
Coaching career
In addition to his coaching at the professional level, Layden coached at Seton Hall High School and at Adelphi Suffolk College.
Niagara (1968–1976)
Layden coached at his alma mater, Niagara University, from 1968 to 1976. Layden coached Niagara to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 1970, with the help of Calvin Murphy.
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.
Utah Jazz (1981–1988)
In 1979, Layden was hired to be the general manager of the then New Orleans Jazz, and became the head coach of the Jazz (now in Salt Lake City) in 1981, replacing Tom Nissalke. He coached the Jazz for the next seven and a half years. He was instrumental in drafting and signing franchise mainstays John Stockton and Karl Malone to the club. He retired from coaching during the 1988–1989 NBA season, with the team at an 11–6 record and leading the Midwest Division, citing "pressure" and a general burnout from coaching.[1] moving into the team's front office and was replaced as coach by his assistant, Jerry Sloan. "I had a guy come up to me and say 'hit me, hit me', I'm a lawyer'. I think America takes all sports too seriously" Layden said after resigning.[1] "Sometimes in the NBA, you feel like a dog. You age seven years in one. The pressure in the NBA is intense. It's time to have my time."[1] In his final game, Layden was ejected by referee Earl Strom after getting into a shouting match with Washington Bullets guard Darrell Walker.[1]
In 1984, Layden was awarded the
Layden joined the
Utah Starzz (1998–1999)
Layden was the head coach of the Utah Starzz Women's National Basketball Association team from 1998 through 1999 before quitting so he could "enjoy life."[3] Layden would a few months later quit as team president of the Jazz for the very same reasons.
Layden was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in the Basketball and Professional Sports Categories with the Class of 1990.
Retirement
Layden retired from coaching the Jazz in 1989 to serve full-time as the franchise team president and general manager, hiring former NBA player and then Jazz assistant Jerry Sloan as the new head coach. During this time, Layden participated with Marv Albert in a video published by Sports Illustrated called Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers, as well as a sequel to that a year later. Layden once served briefly as a consultant for the New York Knicks, where his son Scott Layden served as general manager for a time. He continues to live with his wife, Barbara, in Salt Lake City.
Coaching philosophy
Layden during his coaching days was known for his lighthearted approach to the game as well as to himself. Often he mocked his own weight and looks and was known for giving one-liners to the media before and after games such as "I don't jog because I want to be sick when I die" and "I once got on a scale to have my fortune read and it said 'come back again alone.'"
Head coaching record
NBA
| 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
| 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
- ^ a b c d "LAYDEN RESIGNS JAZZ COACHING POST - The Washington Post".
- ^ Hedin, Bryan (October 20, 2006). "Layden joins Eagles as honorary coach; ex-Y. player signs". The Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Digital Media. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- ^ "Frank Layden Quits as Starzz Coach". Associated Press.
- ^ a b c d e f Prudential at the Half halftime of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Playoff between the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, in a report by Bill Raftery presented by CBS Sports.
- ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times.