The Utah Jazz's former general manager and head coach, Frank Layden, passed away at the age of 93. According to several accounts, Layden died on July 9, 2025. After the Jazz moved to Salt Lake City in 1979, Layden joined the team and rose to prominence in the NBA. From 1981 to 1989, he led the squad as its head coach, accumulating 277 victories and 294 defeats. The Jazz advanced to the conference semifinals three times and made the playoffs five times under his direction. In 1984, Layden was honoured with the NBA Coach of the Year Award for his accomplishments.

Layden's accomplishment in the draft was among his most important achievements to the Jazz. He is recognised for having turned the team into a formidable force in the NBA by choosing Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton in back-to-back years. Both players would go on to become legendary, with Malone being hailed as a dominant power forward and Stockton as one of the greatest point guards in history.

In addition, Layden made crucial choices in the acquisition of Mark Eaton and Darrell Griffith, two more important players. His talent-spotting greatly influenced the roster, creating a solid base on which the Jazz would later expand.

Layden remained president and general manager of the Jazz after leaving his position as coach. Jerry Sloan, who eventually guided the team to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, was hired in large part thanks to him. Beyond the court, Layden had a significant impact because of his gregarious demeanour and sense of humor, which appealed to both players and spectators.

In the late 1990s, Layden made a brief comeback to coaching as the head coach of the Utah Starzz of the WNBA. Even yet, he continued to be active in the community and impart his knowledge to the next generation after retiring from professional basketball.

An era for the Utah Jazz and the NBA comes to an end with the death of Frank Layden. Many people will remember his outstanding contributions to the sport and the legacy he leaves behind. He became a beloved character in Utah basketball history because of his ability to relate to both players and spectators.