With Scott Morrison set to take a spot on Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy’s staff, the Salt Lake City Stars — the Jazz’s G League affiliate — were in need of a new head coach themselves.
On Friday, they announced the hiring of former Marquette University coach Steve Wojciechowski to fill that role.
“Wojo” led Marquette from 2014-21, compiling a 124-93 record and earning two NCAA Tournament berths. Before that, he was an assistant and associate head coach at his alma mater, Duke University, under Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski.
Wojciechowski also served as a coach/scout for the USA Men’s National Team between 2008-12, and most recently was an assistant coach for the 2022 USA AmeriCup team that won the bronze medal at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup.
“I’m honored and excited to be named the head coach of the Salt Lake City Stars,” Wojciechowski said in a statement. “My family and I have lived in Park City for the last two years, so it is special that this opportunity comes in the place I have grown to love. I am looking forward to working with the Jazz and Stars staff to foster an environment of growth and development for the players in the program as we pursue a G League championship. I am eager to get started in preparation for the 2023-24 season.”
Wojciechowski’s hiring enables Morrison to take a spot on the Jazz bench, as Hardy continues to remake his staff heading into his second season.
It has previously been reported that Hardy decided not to retain lead assistant Alex Jensen or Irv Roland, who were holdovers from Quin Snyder’s staff. It has also been rumored that Bryan Bailey, another Snyder holdover who served as a front-row assistant for Hardy this season, is set to join his old boss in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, legendary Italian coach Ettore Messina, a former Lakers consultant as well as a Spurs assistant alongside Hardy, has been a rumored target for Hardy’s bench. However, when contacted by The Salt Lake Tribune, he maintained “I am enjoying what I’m doing with [Olimpia] Milano.”
Last September, Hardy set his Jazz staff by retaining Roland, Jensen, Bailey, and Lamar Skeeter, from Snyder’s staff, with the latter three serving as his front-row assistants. Chris Jones and Sanjay Lumpkin were also holdovers, but promoted by Hardy to player development coaches. He also imported Evan Bradds from the Celtics, Sean Sheldon from the Spurs, and Jason Terry from the G League’s Grand Rapids Gold. Jeff Hornacek was also brought in as a coaching consultant.
The 46-year-old Wojciechowski played at Duke for four seasons between 1994-98. While there, he was named 1998 NABC Defensive Player of the Year, 1997-98 All-ACC Third Team, and 1996-97 All-ACC Second Team.
“The goal in our coaching search was to find a teacher with a high basketball acumen who could connect well with our players, and we have found that with Steve,” Stars general manager Marquis Newman said in a statement. “We are excited to welcome a dynamic coach like Wojo and benefit from his 22 years of experience developing NBA-level talent. We look forward to having him lead our team and continue to develop the Stars program as a tool for our young players in the Utah Jazz organization.”
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