From Deseret News archives:
Miller clears air: Sloan's job is safe
Miller told Sloan he had nothing to worry about, and fully backed the Jazz's only head coach since Sloan succeeded Frank Layden on Dec. 9, 1988.
"My exact words to him: 'Jerry, I think I've caused you concern, and I apologize for that. I'm going to tell you right now, our agreement from the beginning is intact: If I have any problem with you, I'll tell you,' " Miller told a small gathering of reporters prior to the Jazz's win over Minnesota on Wednesday night at the Delta Center.
"I said, 'I do question some things. I always do. But I look at results in the long-term, and those are the things we talk about at the end of the year.' "
Miller made it abundantly clear that Sloan's job is his to keep — and that goes beyond this season, too.
"I want Jerry to coach this team," he said of Sloan, who is tenured longer with the same team than any coach or manager in major American professional sports. "I don't know anybody, even know of — other coaches in the league, or anything else — that I would rather have coach the team.
"As far as I'm concerned, nothing has changed — my confidence level, my trust," the Jazz owner added. "One thing I always know about Jerry, he's absolutely trustworthy and he's always doing the best he can. . . . I know he never gives less than he's got to give. So, that's all you can ask from anybody."
Miller also told Sloan, " 'We'll talk about the future 22 games from now.'
"But I want him here if he wants to be here," Miller said. "That's up to him."
Sloan acknowledged his discussion with Miller on Wednesday morning, shortly after the two met face-to-face at the Delta Center.
"My conversations with Larry are open," he said. "We sit down and air ourselves out with each other, and go on about our business.
"He probably doesn't always like what I do," Sloan added. "I don't know anybody who would agree with what I do on a daily basis in the coaching business. Because I make mistakes. I do things on a gut reaction; sometimes they're wrong. That's just part of this business."
The meeting was held in the aftermath of Utah's victory over Orlando on Monday, one in which the Jazz won only after blowing what had been a 20-point lead late in the third quarter.
With 28.6 seconds left in that game, after the Magic had tied the score, Miller left his courtside seat and called both team president Dennis Haslam and basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor out of their own seats.
