The Utah Jazz’s leadership wanted to make clear: Despite all of the losing during the 2024-25 season, they love Will Hardy as the franchise’s head coach.
So on Monday, they put pen to paper on another contract extension, locking Hardy in through the 2030-31 season. Hardy’s contract previously ran through 2026-27.
“That’s ultimately a big sigh of relief for any coach,” Hardy said. “We all see every day that this business is not one where you see a ton of coaches getting long term commitments.”
“Will’s leadership has been invaluable to our program. He has established a vision for our players and a strong foundation of core values, competitive habits, and growth mindset,” Danny Ainge, CEO of Jazz basketball, said in a statement explaining the extension. “He is one of the brightest young coaches in our league, and we are incredibly fortunate to have him.”
In his three years at the helm of the Jazz, the team has amassed an 85-161 record. In the 2024-25 season, the Jazz finished with a 17-65 record, the worst in the NBA. But the losing — especially in the most recent year — was at least partially intentional, with Jazz upper management pulling healthy players off the active list and onto the injury report, as well as prioritizing the development of younger players.
“Will is an incredible leader, great communicator – especially with our younger players – and a strong ambassador for this franchise,” Ryan Smith, majority owner of the franchise, said in a statement. “He has been a tremendous partner to Danny (Ainge), Justin (Zanik), and me. There is no one we would rather have leading us to our ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship here in Utah.”
Those younger players agree. For example, rookie Isaiah Collier, when asked about his first NBA head coach, said Hardy “has done a great job with all of us.”
There was even some fear that Hardy might leave the Jazz, fears he addressed in the season’s final news conference.
“I’m all in, man. I’m not going anywhere, ” Hardy said then. “I’m putting my roots here in Utah. That’s not even a question for me. In some ways, my conviction has never been stronger in terms of wanting to execute our vision and ultimately win a championship.”
The 37-year-old began his coaching career under Gregg Popovich, who recently finished his tenure as the San Antonio Spurs’ head coach in a move to become president of the team. After spending 11 seasons with the successful Spurs, Hardy was the lead assistant coach on the Celtics for one season before being hired by the Jazz in 2022. The Celtics made the NBA Finals in his lone year with the team.
So with all of the winning he’d experienced in his career before now, why is Hardy so interested in staying in Utah?
“This is all going to be worth it,” he said. “Growing these young players is going to give us the best chance to hang a banner at Delta Center.”
