Jerry Sloan

The Original Bull who became a Jazz legend.

Gerald Eugene Sloan (March 28, 1942 – May 22, 2020) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He played 11 seasons in the NBA before beginning a 30-year coaching career, 23 of which were spent as head coach of the Utah Jazz (1988–2011). NBA commissioner David Stern referred to Sloan as 'one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history'. Sloan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Quick Facts

Born: 28 March 1942
Birthplace: McLeansboro, Illinois, U.S.
Died: 22 May 2020
Place of death: Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
High school: McLeansboro (McLeansboro, Illinois)
College: Evansville (1962–1965)
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 4

Lore & Background

After playing college basketball with the Evansville Purple Aces, Sloan was selected by the Baltimore Bullets with the fourth overall pick of the 1965 NBA draft. He spent his rookie season with the Bullets before playing the remainder of his career with the Chicago Bulls, retiring due to injuries in 1976. Nicknamed 'the Original Bull', he was a two-time NBA All-Star, a six-time member of the All-Defensive Team and the first player to have his number retired by the Bulls. Sloan then became a coach, and had a career regular-season win–loss record of 1,221–803, placing him third all-time in NBA wins at the time he retired. He was the fifth coach to reach 1,000 NBA victories and is one of two coaches in NBA history to record 1,000 wins with one club (the Utah Jazz). Sloan coached the Jazz to 15 consecutive playoff appearances from 1989 to 2003. He is one of only four coaches in NBA history with 15-plus consecutive seasons that have a winning record. He led Utah to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, but lost to Chicago both times. After Tom Kelly stepped down as manager of the Minnesota Twins in 2001, Sloan became the longest-tenured head coach in American major league sports with their current franchise. He resigned mid-season from the Jazz in 2011 before returning in 2013 as an adviser and scouting consultant.

Reader's Guide

Born and raised in Gobbler's Knob, Illinois, 15 mi south of McLeansboro, Sloan was the youngest of 10 children and was raised by a single mother after his father died when Jerry was 4 years old. He would wake up at 4:30 a.m. to do farm chores and then walk almost two miles to get to school in time for 7 a.m. basketball practice. After school, he would walk back home from practice. Sloan graduated an all-state player from McLeansboro High School in 1960. He first enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, withdrew, enrolled at Southern Illinois University, and withdrew once more before attending Evansville, where he played college basketball for the Evansville Purple Aces from 1962 to 1965, where he was named the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) Player of the Year in 1963 and 1965 and a three-time first-team All-ICC selection. He was chosen as the 19th overall pick in the 1964 NBA draft by the Baltimore Bullets but he remained in college and led the Purple Aces to their second in two consecutive Division II national titles. Sloan was selected fourth in the 1965 NBA draft by the Baltimore Bullets. The Chicago Bulls, an expansion team, selected Sloan in the 1966 NBA expansion draft. He became known as 'the Original Bull', known for his tenacious defense, leading them to the playoffs in their first season, and to their first and only division title before the Michael Jordan era; after a series of knee injuries, he retired in 1976. He averaged more than 18 points a game in 1970–71, and over 15 points per game three other seasons. Sloan's scored a career high of 43 points in a win against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 5, 1969. Despite his height of only , his career rebounding average was 7.4 rebounds per game, with one season having an average of 9.1 rebounds. He was a career 72 percent free throw shooter. His number 4 jersey was subsequently retired by the Chicago Bulls in 1978, becoming the first retired jersey in franchise history. While at Evansville, coach Arad McCutchan suggested that Sloan coach at his alma mater. After retiring in 1976, Sloan took the Evansville job, but withdrew after five days. That same season, the Evansville basketball team and coaching staff were killed in a plane crash at Evansville Airport. Two years later, Sloan was hired by the Bulls as a scout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Jerry Sloan?

He held the head coaching position for twenty-three seasons, spanning from 1988 until his retirement in 2011. Before becoming a coach, he played professional basketball for franchises including the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

How far did Jerry Sloan take the Jazz?

During his tenure, he guided the franchise to two NBA Finals appearances in the late 1990s. While they never secured a championship title, these runs solidified their status as a top-tier team under his guidance.

When did Jerry Sloan enter the Hall of Fame?

Sloan received this prestigious honor in 2009 when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This recognition celebrated his immense impact on the game primarily through his coaching achievements.