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The Great Utah Jazz Coaching Search appears to be over.
Multiple reports, including Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski (and much earlier, our own Peter J. Novak), have confirmed that the Jazz will sign Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Quin Snyder to a three-year deal.
Utah is finalizing an agreement to make Atlanta assistant Quin Snyder its head coach, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 6, 2014
Snyder, 47, had gone through at least two rounds of interviews, beating out Bulls assistant Adrian Griffin, former Clippers and Suns coach Alvin Gentry, and recent Jazz assistant and former Utah Flash head coach Brad Jones. He becomes the Jazz's fifth head coach since moving to Utah in 1979, and the first external coaching candidate hired since Tom Nissalke (Frank Layden, Jerry Sloan and Tyrone Corbin all held positions with the Jazz prior to becoming head coach).
After playing under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke from 1985 to 1989, Snyder went undrafted in the NBA. He became an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers in 1992-93 before returning to Duke as an assistant and later associate head coach.
Snyder became head coach at Missouri in 1999 and led the Tigers to an Elite Eight berth in 2002, along with three other NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure.
An investigation into NCAA violations in the early 2000s led to Snyder's resignation from Missouri in 2006. He moved to the D-League as head coach of the Austin Toros (the Spurs affiliate), where he led the team to a Finals appearance in his first year. Snyder later coached as an assistant under Doug Collins of the Philadelphia 76ers and Mike Brown of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Snyder spent one year as the assistant head coach of CSKA Moscow under Ettore Messina, who had worked as a consultant with the Lakers. Snyder then joined the Atlanta Hawks staff in 2013 under Mike Budenholzer.
With so many short stops in so many different places since leaving Mizzou, it's tough to say how Snyder will fit in with the Jazz. This is his first significant head coaching position since 2006 with Missouri, but Dennis Lindsey knows him from Snyder's time in Austin, and he has a fair amount of experience in player development, something the Jazz need.
Remember main reason Dennis Lindsey gave for firing Corbin was difference in philosophies...I'm confident that's not an issue with Snyder.
— Peter J Novak (@Peter_J_Novak) June 6, 2014
For a couple of interesting reads on the Jazz's new head coach, check out pacoelcid's recent FanPost, as well as this ESPN.com profile from 2008.
UPDATE: ESPN's Marc Stein reports that Snyder's former boss in Moscow (bosscow?) Ettore Messina might be headed stateside:
One scenario circulating in coach circles is that Snyder, upon landing Utah job, will try to import Euro legend Ettore Messina as assistant
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 6, 2014
Other Snyder assistants, from @DJJazzyJody:
Confirming Jazz will hire Quin Snyder as head coach. Team is expected to hire Brad Jones as an assistant and promote Alex Jensen to bench.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) June 6, 2014
Jody also speculates that other teams might try to steal Jensen first. Check his timeline for lots of breaking info.
UPDATE: Rock M Nation, the SB Nation Mizzou affiliate, has a few commenter reactions in this thread: http://www.rockmnation.com/2014/6/6/5786666/rmn-after-dark-june-6th-2014. Also, thanks to RMN manager Fullback U for stopping by and cross-posting!
UPDATE: Matt Moore of CBS and Hardwood Paroxysm is a Mizzou alumnus. His take:
Quin Snyder's players in Austin LOVED HIM. He does phenomenal work developing guards Trey Burke wins big here.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) June 6, 2014
Also, you guys ain't seen sideline freakouts til you've seen Quin Snyder sideline freakouts. This will be fun.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) June 6, 2014
UPDATE: (prodigal punk)
Developmental coach Johnnie Bryant will remain in his position on the Jazz coaching staff. He has been heavily involved in the draft evaluation process, managing workouts and studying film of prospects.