Three Things Next Jazz Coach Can Accomplish Snyder Never Did
Jun 9, 2022, 4:03 PM
Head coach Quiin Snyder of the Utah Jazz reacts from the bench while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 05, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Utah won the game 110-105. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Quin Snyder era in Utah has come to an end and the Jazz are looking for the next coach to come in and fill his mighty shoes.
But while Snyder was one of the most accomplished coaches in the NBA over the last eight seasons, there are a few achievements he never reached with the Jazz.
Here’s a list of three realistic things the next Jazz coach could accomplish that Snyder never did.
Make The Conference Finals
After making it to the second round in each of his first two postseason appearances with the Jazz, Snyder was never able to lead the team any further in the playoffs.
During Snyder’s six trips to the playoffs with the Jazz, they made it out of the first round three times in total, but couldn’t break through to a Conference Finals or Finals appearances.
The @utahjazz head coaching candidate tracker!
A running list of every name reportedly interviewing for the team's open head coaching position, plus their resumes. #TakeNote https://t.co/K8kvJLcGpR
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While making the Finals requires a terrific combination of talent, health, and luck, the Jazz should have been able to cash a ticket to the Conference Finals, especially in 2021 when they entered the playoffs with the best record in the NBA.
Instead, the Jazz blew a 2-0 lead against the Los Angeles Clippers and were eliminated in the first round last season.
During Snyder’s tenure, 10 of the 15 Western Conference teams made an appearance in the Conference Finals, and the Jazz weren’t one of them. That’s a good bar to set for the Jazz next head coach.
Win Coach Of The Year
Snyder isn’t to blame for not winning the NBA Coach of the Year award, after all, it seems to be the only end-of-season honor that has escaped the Jazz for the last three decades.
Not even Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan earned the honor, despite owning the fourth-most wins in NBA history.
37 years and counting, the @utahjazz are still awaiting their second Coach of the Year award winner. #TakeNote https://t.co/ym7M4AG4Mb
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Snyder should have won the award in 2021 after leading the Jazz to the best record in the NBA and was a strong candidate in 2017 and 2019, but couldn’t break the Jazz winless streak since Frank Layden won the award in 1984.
Despite not winning a Coach of the Year award, Snyder did take home Coach of the Month honors four times.
Enter The Community
The most subjective accomplishment on the list, Snyder never fully seemed to blend into the Utah community where he lived for eight years.
Snyder was notoriously private with his personal life, though he was always forward with his appreciation for the fans, even if he rarely made public appearances.
“We built a home, you feel at home,” Snyder said, “I don’t go out a whole lot but the times that I do sneak out to dinner, people have a great feel for everything, whether it’s just a quick hello, or something a little more.”
On fan appreciation night, a shoutout from Coach ❤️#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/f5Qn0rUkCT
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 9, 2022
It’s hard to blame Snyder for wanting to use his limited private time to see his family, but he never became the staple in the community as a public figure the way Sloan and Layden did during and after their time with the Jazz.
The next Jazz head coach doesn’t need to invite fans into their home, but the team’s community would welcome a more public figure.
