SALT LAKE CITY—Scott Layden, who has spent virtually his entire NBA coaching/management career with the Utah Jazz, announced yesterday afternoon that he has accepted new Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey’s old job—assistant general manager with the San Antonio Spurs.
Many thought that Layden–son of former Jazz head coach and general manager Frank—should have been interviewed for the general manager position in Utah, but was snuffed when Utah interviewed only one man. The man they ended up hiring. Layden worked under his father in Utah, and became a key part of the drafts that brought Jazz legends John Stockton and Karl Malone.
After leaving Utah in 1999, he became the Vice President and Assistant General Manager for the New York Knicks through 2001, and was later promoted to General Manager. He was in New York until 2003 when he was fired by owner James Dolan and was succeeded in his work by Isaiah Thomas.
Under the tenure of the two GMs, the Knicks were arguably one of the worst run franchises in the league. In 2005 Layden made his return to Utah as an assistant coach under the legendary Jazz skipper Jerry Sloan, and has continued his work under new head coach Tyrone Corbin.
The Spurs front office is a hotbed for creating new general managers. Danny Ferry, Dell Demps, Sam Presti, and now Dennis Lindsey have all become GMs after working in San Antonio. Gordy Chiesa was a very strong candidate to be a replacement for Layden, but has been hired by former Jazz point guard Jacque Vaughn and the Orlando Magic.
Other possible replacements are John Stockton’s former backup Howard Eisley, and current Idaho Stampede head coach Randy Livingston who played with Corbin in Atlanta.
