The Jazz aren't one of the NBA teams still searching for a head coach, but they have talked to former coach Jerry Sloan about a potential return to the organization, reports Jody Genessy of the Deseret News. According to Genessy, the Jazz and Sloan have had preliminary discussions about the 71-year-old joining the team in an unspecified role, to help the franchise and coach Tyrone Corbin.
"That's up to (them)," Sloan said. "That's a situation that's strictly up to Ty or somebody in the Jazz organization. If they want me around, fine. If they don't, (fine). They'd talked to me a little bit about it a little bit earlier."
Sloan has been linked to a number of head coaching openings during the last couple summers, but it appears he has yet to find an ideal fit. The longtime Utah head coach joined the team's contingent at the NBA's Chicago predraft combine last month, at which point team president Randy Rigby indicated the Jazz would welcome Sloan back in a consulting role.
According to Genessy, Sloan is open to returning to the organization in some way, though it's not clear if he is interested in acting as a consultant, a coach, or an executive. Sloan stressed that he wouldn't want to be a distraction for Corbin and the rest of the coaching staff.
The Jazz have already reunited with one franchise icon this offseason, having brought Karl Malone aboard to work with the club's big men.