Frank Layden

Frank Layden ( born January 5, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York ) is a retired American basketball coach and general manager of the Utah Jazz.

Frank Layden began his coaching career in 1956 and coached among others, the College Basketball Team of Niagara University, where he was active as a player. In 1976, he accepted an offer of the Atlanta Hawks and joined as an assistant coach in the NBA. In 1979 he became General Manager of the hitherto unsuccessful New Orleans Jazz, the Jazz were after moving to Salt Lake City at the Utah. 1981 Layden replaced the unsuccessful Tom Nissalke as coach of the Jazz. In the dual role as coach and manager, the Jazz in 1984 for the first time reached the play-offs. For this performance, Layden was awarded both the ' Trainer of the Year ' as well as the ' Manager of the Year '.

Layden posted to the NBA Draft in 1984 and 1985 with the obligations of John Stockton and Karl Malone the foundation for the successful ascent of the team. Likewise Layden promoted in 1988 assistant coach Jerry Sloan as his successor and one of the most successful coaches in future NBA history. Layden even stepped back from his duties as coach and moved into management of the Utah Jazz, where he remained employed as a manager and team president until 1999.

Frank Layden Laydens son Scott was a long time manager of the New York Knicks, then he worked as an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz, he currently is in the management of the San Antonio Spurs worked.

Although Layden has never played for the Jazz, was withdrawn in his honor and for his achievements as a manager and coach, the jersey number 1.

In 1984, Layden was as to date only NBA head coach won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for community involvement.