Report: Celtics' Hardy making ‘strong impression' on Jazz in HC search

Share

Most of the Boston Celtics' core players should be back for the 2022-23 season. But it's possible they lose a top assistant coach.

Celtics assistants Will Hardy and Joe Mazzulla both are in the running for the Utah Jazz's head coach job, which became available when Quin Snyder stepped down on June 5.

According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, Hardy is a very real candidate; Stein reported in his newsletter Thursday that Hardy and Phoenix Suns assistant coach Kevin Young are "said to have made a strong impression on the Jazz to date." (H/t to Deseret News)

Ime Udoka hints at Celtics' offseason plan by pointing out 'key' need

Stein also reported that those in NBA coaching circles believe Utah prefers to hire a "young first-time head coach" rather than a retread. That bodes well for Hardy, a 34-year-old rising star in the coaching ranks.

Hardy joined the San Antonio Spurs as a video intern in 2010 after graduating from Division III Williams College in Massachusetts and by 2015 was coaching the Spurs' NBA Summer League squad as one of head coach Gregg Popovich's lead assistant coaches.

Ime Udoka was on that Spurs staff as well, and Udoka made Hardy his top assistant when he took the Celtics head coach job last June. Boston's new coaching staff found incredible success in its first season, guiding the C's to their first NBA Finals berth since 2010 while winning a pair of Game 7s during the playoff run.

Udoka confirmed Friday that both Hardy and Mazzulla are in the interview process with the Jazz, who are led by former Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. While losing either assistant would be a tough blow, Udoka and his staff are prepared for any scenario.

"We have two guys interviewing with Utah, Will Hardy and Joe Mazzulla, so we'll see what happens there," Udoka said in a press conference. "But we have a lot of young talented guys on our coaching staff and we like to elevate from within whenever possible."

Ainge recently mentioned Utah's hiring process could take roughly six weeks -- the same time it took for the team to hire Snyder -- which means the Jazz could make their decision by sometime in mid-July.

Contact Us