The longest tenured coach in American professional sports isn't going anywhere.
The Utah Jazz announced Wednesday night that Jerry Sloan has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the team through 2010-11.
It will be Sloan's 23rd season after taking over as head coach of the Jazz on Dec. 9, 1988, when Frank Layden stepped down.
Terms of Sloan's newest deal are not known, but his current annual salary is $5.5 million.
"I'm happy with the fact they still want to have me here. ..." Sloan said. "Our ownership has always been very supportive. That's something I've always appreciated."
Sloan credited his staff, including lead assistant Phil Johnson, for "kind of helping carry us all these years. ... I've been very fortunate to work with a great group of guys."
Heading into Friday night's game against Indiana at EnergySolutions Arena, Sloan is the fourth-winningest coach in NBA history. His record is 1,147-758.
Last season, the 67-year-old Sloan became the first coach to win 1,000 games with one franchise.
In September, he was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, along with former Jazz star John Stockton.
"The consistency of the Jazz under coach Sloan's direction is unparalleled in the NBA," said general manager Kevin O'Connor. "We are certainly excited that he will continue to guide the team moving forward."
Last April, after the Jazz finished with a disappointing 48-34 record and were beaten soundly in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers, Sloan underwent knee replacement surgery.
At that point, he wondered if he would be healthy enough to keep coaching. But after an early setback, he recovered in time for training camp, the exhibition season and the start of the regular season.
Utah is 10-7 so far after winning six of its past seven games.
"I had a little doubt after I had my knee operated on," Sloan said. "But when I started feeling better, I thought that was a good sign for me.
"Health has always been one of the most important factors. I've always thought if I wasn't able to do the job [physically], that's when I'd have to get out."
Laughing, Sloan added, "Unless somebody else thought I needed to get out sooner."
No problem there, apparently.
Larry Miller, the late owner of the Jazz, was also a long-time Sloan supporter.
Since his passing in February, Gail Miller and Greg Miller have continued to stand in Sloan's corner.
In the team's statement announcing Sloan's contract extension, Greg Miller said, "We have been fortunate to call Jerry Sloan our head coach for two-plus decades.
"He embodies everything our organization stands for, which makes him the perfect fit to lead our roster into the future."
According to the Jazz, there have been a total of 236 coaches in the NBA since Sloan took over in 1988. Every team has made at least two changes.
"The entire organization is thrilled that Jerry will continue to lead the Jazz," said team president Randy Rigby. "He continually produces winning seasons and challenges his players to bring their best to the floor each night."
In his first 21 seasons with the Jazz, Sloan's teams made 18 playoff appearances, won at least 50 games 12 times, won seven division championships and reached the NBA Finals twice.
