Eight years ago, Quin Snyder was fired by the University of Missouri. Losing too much, hit by NCAA sanctions and dogged by rumors of off-court partying, Snyder saw his image hit rock bottom.
Slowly but surely, he’s rebuilt his stock.
He coached in the D-League, as an NBA assistant and then overseas. He returned to the NBA this season as an assistant with the Hawks, and he impressed the Jazz. As Utah’s lengthy coaching search progressed, Snyder rose to the top.
All the way to the top.
Quin Snyder agreed on a three-year deal with the @utahjazz to become the next head coach of the team, I am told
— Sportando (@Sportando) June 6, 2014
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
Utah is finalizing an agreement to make Atlanta assistant Quin Snyder its head coach, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 6, 2014
The deal will include three guaranteed years, plus a team option, sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 6, 2014
Marc Stein of ESPN:
One scenario circulating in coach circles is that Snyder, upon landing Utah job, will try to import Euro legend Ettore Messina as assistant
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 6, 2014
Snyder, who played at Duke, is bright – targeting Messina shows that. But he’ll have his work cut out for him in Utah.
The Jazz have plenty of young talent – Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Trey Burke, Alec Burks and Rudy Gobert still on their rookie contracts, and Gordon Hayward will be a restricted free agent. But their roster is very unrefined.
Snyder might be the teacher who moves the franchise forward. His D-League and college experience gives him plenty of experience working with raw players.
And maybe he now has the perspective to handle this trying job.
It’s been a long road back for Snyder. He’s earned this.