The Utah Jazz announced today that Jeff Hornacek has been named an assistant coach for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. Hornacek joins lead assistant Scott Layden on head coach Tyrone Corbin’s coaching staff. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
Hornacek becomes a full-time assistant coach after having begun working for the Jazz as a shooting coach prior to the 2007 NBA Playoffs. In addition to that time working together, Hornacek and Corbin also were teammates twice as players covering parts of three seasons, first in Phoenix during the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons, and again in Utah in 1993-94.
“I am excited to have Jeff on board and to have him expand his role and become more involved with the team,” said Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin. “He has a great history with basketball, especially with the Jazz, and I think the players are excited about him being around more. I think he will bring a lot of positive energy and knowledge to the team.”
Hornacek becomes only the seventh different assistant coach for the Jazz since Jerry Sloan was promoted to head coach in December 1988, joining Phil Johnson, Gordon Chiesa, David Fredman, Kenny Natt, Corbin and Layden.
“I am thankful that Ty has offered me the opportunity to serve as an assistant coach for the rest of the year,” said Hornacek. “I am excited at the possibility to increase my involvement with the team in a coaching capacity, and to be a part of this staff, and look forward to working more closely with the coaches and players on a day-to-day basis.”
A native of Elmhurst, Ill., Hornacek played for three teams during a 14-year NBA playing career (1986-2000), including seven seasons with the Jazz from 1993-2000, where he averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 477 games. He was originally selected by the Phoenix Suns in the second round (46th overall pick) of the 1986 NBA Draft out of Iowa State University. Hornacek appeared in a total of 1,077 career games, which included time with Phoenix and Philadelphia in addition to Utah.
Considered one of the premier shooters in NBA history, Hornacek connected on .496 percent from the field (5,929-11,957), including .403 percent from three-point range (828-2,055) and .877 percent from the free throw line (2,973-3,390). He still ranks eighth in league history in free throw percentage, 11 seasons following his retirement from the NBA following the 1999-2000 season. Hornacek was selected an NBA All-Star in 1992, and twice won the Three-Point Shootout during All-Star Weekend (1998 and 2000). His No. 14 jersey was retired by the Jazz on November 19, 2002.
