Layden actually almost quit — and wishes he would've — after the Jazz won their second division title and took the Lakers to seven games in the 1988 Western Conference semifinals.

After being wooed by the expansion Miami Heat and talks with Jazz management, however, Layden said his batteries were recharged so he kept coaching. That didn't last long.

"We went in the exhibition season and I had some regrets," he said. "I felt I wanted to spend more time with (my wife) Barbara and do some traveling."

Traveling without a couple of coaches and a dozen players tagging along, that is.

Even though the Jazz got off to a nice 11-6 start for 1988-89, somebody flipped Layden's enthusiasm switch off. He knew it was time to go.

First, Layden told his wife. Next, he told Jazz GM David Checketts and owner Larry Miller. Then, he informed Sloan, who remembers how it took him "off guard."

"It was a real shock to me," Sloan said, "because I really saw no signs of it at all."

By the next morning, Layden's coaching career was over and Sloan's was reborn after a stint with Chicago from 1979-82 ended in him getting fired. As the Deseret News put it that day, "Frank Layden's stormy, successful and never-boring stay as the Utah Jazz's head coach ended Friday, by his choice."

Jazz players weren't expecting this surprise, either.

Karl Malone, who had a soft spot in his heart for Layden, said at the time he was "in shock." Mark Eaton gave a vote of confidence to his new coach "because the things we've got are working — and most of the stuff is his, anyway."

Miller had previously talked to Sloan, who had been approached about coaching elsewhere, about eventually becoming the Jazz's coach. Sloan insisted that he didn't want that to happen until Layden called it quits.

"I didn't feel very comfortable doing it, but the job was there," Sloan said. "It was an opportunity for me. It was very difficult."

Got off to a rough start, too. The Jazz lost to the Dallas Mavericks that night 97-89, prompting Sloan to joke, "The honeymoon's over, right?"

Maybe, but the marriage certainly isn't. The 20-year union has produced 1,008 wins — including his first the next night against the Los Angeles Clippers — seven division titles, 17 playoff appearances and two NBA Finals trips.

Sloan credits his players and assistants for all the success and accolades that he'd rather not talk about. He also continually lauds Miller for not firing him and for creating a stable franchise and work environment.

"I've been blessed," Sloan said.

To celebrate the Big 20 anniversary, Sloan will do absolutely nothing, well, except to coach his 1,614th regular-season game with the Jazz tonight.