<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center">Sloan's future: Even his players don't know if their coach will want to return</div> When Matt Harpring arrived in Utah, it seemed nothing ever changed with the league's most predictable franchise. But now everything is different. Karl Malone and John Stockton left after Harpring's first season. The Jazz missed the playoffs for the first time in 20 years after his second. His third season snapped the Jazz's 21-year string without a losing record. So could the last pillar of Jazz stability - coach Jerry Sloan's annual ritual of mulling his future, then signing on for another year - be next? Is it possible that tonight's home finale against Sacramento (7 p.m., KJZZ) might be Sloan's final appearance on the Delta Center sidelines? "I'm saying it's 50-50. I've heard him say that," Harpring said. "It seems like we wonder about [the coach's future] every year. My first year, people thought he might leave with Stockton and Malone. Last season, nobody knew what was going to happen [with Sloan's wife's health]. "Now, with the losing, people are wondering again." Including his players. "I hope he does" come back, said guard Raja Bell, "but man, I don't know. I guess I wouldn't be surprised either way." </div> <div align="center">Link</div>
Boozer is closer to the mark than all of the rest. "Sloan has earned the right to do whatever he wants!!" Tank
One thing Sloan has never been is a quitter. He has 1 year remaining on his contract, and I expect him to be back to finish it in full. This year, the Jazz were destroyed by injuries 14 games into the season. Prior to those injuries the Jazz got off to a quick start and managed a 6-1 record. They completely dominated their opponents on the defensive end. After the quick start, the drama with Arroyo and Sloan started and the team chemistry took a hit. By the way, Arroyo is showing he is a problem child in Detroit as well, with another old school coach, Larry Brown. The Jazz have had a disastorous season, but we've all seen teams make dramatic leaps from a season ago. In 2005/06 the Jazz have the same chance to surprise everyone just like the Suns, Sonics, and Wizards did. They have plenty of talent, and they have a lottery pick this year.
Jerry Sloan has one year left on his contract. Over his time in the NBA he has proven he's not a man to back down from a challenge and that he's not a quitter. However, Sloan has had to go through a lot of hardships recently, the biggest been the loss of his wife last year. He isn't getting any younger, and this season would've been incredibly frustating for him. He has had a successful coaching career, and as Boozer said, he has earned the right to do whatever he wants.
