Utah Jazz Announce Ty Corbin Will Not Be Returning as Head Coach

(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Utah Jazz today announced that the contract of Utah Jazz coach Ty Corbin will not be renewed beyond next season.

Corbin, who took over the job after Jerry Sloan’s resignation on February 10, 2011, had spent 3.5 seasons with the Jazz as head coach of the franchise. After Sloan’s resignation, Corbin had just 3 games with franchise player Deron Williams before he was traded to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and two first round draft picks.¹

Corbin finished with a 112-146 record in his time as head coach, leading the Jazz to the NBA playoffs just once, in which they were swept in 4 games by the San Antonio Spurs. Corbin’s teams didn’t fail compared to expectations, but never greatly surprised, either.

Prior to this season, the final one of Corbin’s contract, Dennis Lindsey set a rubric for the Jazz’s season overall, and by extension, Ty Corbin’s performance. He called them the 3Ds: defense, development, and discipline. While Ty Corbin’s teams were never lacking in discipline ², te record in the other two were more questionable. The Jazz’s defense ranked 29th this season, by points per possession, and observers had hoped for much more around technically gifted big man Derrick Favors.

While those young players saw playing time and minutes this season, Corbin’s curious, veteran-heavy rotations have also been the source of much criticism, from both local and national observers. Corbin gave major, starting roles to veterans Raja Bell, Josh Howard, and Richard Jefferson, despite questionable production and younger, more touted equivalents seemingly ready to play minutes behind them.As Enes Kanter said in his post-season interview last Thursday: “Truth is that the five young guy³ needs to play more minutes.”

That being said, Corbin garnered much praise for keeping the locker room intact and coaching in the right way, maintaining peace during some tumultuous times, and especially given the playing time decisions referenced above.

More coverage coming on Salt City Hoops.