Frank Layden Inducted To Utah Boys & Girls Clubs Hall Of Fame

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Frank Layden has been inducted to Utah Boys & Girls Clubs and Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame.

The former Utah Jazz head coach is the inaugural member to earn the distinction.

In a virtual event hosted by former Jazz forward Thurl Bailey, Layden discussed what he learned during his youth as a member of the Boys & Girls Club.

Tune in as former Utah Jazz head coach Frank Layden gets inducted into the Utah Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame 💙

6 PM MST ⤵️https://t.co/kBIjpjaQ1R pic.twitter.com/eFEAHOqIRs

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) February 19, 2021

“The Boys Club taught us how to win, how to lose, how to accept success and how to live with defeat. It made us stronger,” Layden said according to a release from the club. “If it wasn’t for them, none of these other things would have happened.”

Layden spent seven and a half seasons as head coach of the Utah Jazz from 1981 to 1989. The coach amassed 277 wins in 571 games ranking third-most amongst wins by coaches in Jazz history.

Layden was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1984 and remains the only coach in Jazz history to earn that honor. In 1989, the Jazz retired the No. 1 jersey in honor of Layden.

Win No. 2⃣7⃣7⃣ in the regular season for Quin Snyder ties Frank Layden for second most in @utahjazz history.#TakeNote https://t.co/4KjvXZLvXV

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021

Shawnti D. from the Miller Family Club was also honored as the 2021 Greater Salt Lake Youth of the Year after helping to take care of her younger brother while her mother was suffering from a shoulder injury.

Shawnti is a high school senior at Murray High School where she stars for the varsity basketball team. The senior will receive a $2,000 scholarship and will go on to contend for the title of Utah Youth of the Year this spring.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake have operated since 1967 and offer positive alternatives to children who may be surrounded by negative influences.