Jerry Sloan Resigns As Utah Jazz Coach, Ending 23-Year Tenure

Jerry Sloan has confirmed to Chris Tomasson of FanHouse that he has resigned as head coach of the Utah Jazz. News about Sloan's exit from the team he's led since 1988 broke earlier Thursday. The Jazz have scheduled a 5 PM Eastern press conference to announced the decision and the expected promotion of Utah assistant coach Tyrone Corbin.

Sloan was in his 23rd season as Utah's head coach. While he's never won a Coach of the Year award, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 with longtime point guard John Stockton. Unfortunately enough, it has been reported that clashes with his current All-Star point guard -- Deron Williams -- led to Sloan's exit.

Sloan told Tomasson that the reports are true and that his career as head coach of the Jazz is over.

Sloan confirmed the surprising news to FanHouse's Chris Tomasson when reached by phone Thursday. "We're just moving forward and that's it," he said. Sloan declined to address rumors that a rift with point guard Deron Williams contributed to his departure.

Phil Johnson, Sloan's top assisitant coach for the entire Jazz tenure, will also step down.