Jerry Sloan on the Utah Jazz

Jerry Sloan, head coach of the Utah Jazz basketball team, spoke with us as he prepared for his 23rd season at the helm of the Jazz.

Q What are your expectations for the upcoming season?

A We have a lot of different faces and some different types of players than we’ve had in the past. That always makes for question marks until you see exactly what you’ve got. But that is what makes coaching so much fun. It will be our job to put things together and see if we can win with the new players we have.

Q The biggest name among the new players is Al Jefferson. How do you see him fitting in?

A Well, he’s 6'10", so the first thing he gives us is a little bit more size. He has been effective around the basket—scoring and rebounding—in the past. But Al has been on teams that have struggled. We hope, in a new situation, he can keep producing like he has in the past and help our team win some games.

Q You used the No. 9 pick in the draft on Gordon Hayward from Butler University. Why?

A He is an interesting player because he just wants to play basketball. He wants to do the things that make his teammates better and that help you win. We liked what we saw from him in the summer league, so we’ll have to see what happens this season.

This article was first published in December 2010. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.

Photography by David Zalubowski/AP Photo