Jerry Sloan will more than likely be coach for the Utah Jazz even after the Karl Malone-John Stockton era is history. The long-time Jazz mentor signed a three-year contract last week while in town for the NBA draft that will keep him around at least through the 2000-01 season.

Sloan, like Malone and Stockton, had one year remaining on his old contract. But he signed a new deal for three years, rather than a two-year extension, meaning the old deal was essentially torn up."It was important to us to keep Jerry as our coach because he reflects the values and work ethic of this franchise," said Jazz general manager Tim Howells, after confirming that the coach signed the new deal last week. "Much of the favorable national press we've received over the past few years is because of Jerry. He's a hard worker and he coaches good, fundamental basketball. That type of approach works well with a veteran team, like we have, but it would also work well with a younger team that is rebuilding."

And the Jazz may be a young, rebuilding team by the time Sloan's new deal is complete. Not only do Stockton's and Malone's contracts with the Jazz expire after next season, but so does Jeff Hornacek's. Both Hornacek and Stockton are nearing retirement and Malone has indicated that he may look to finish his career elsewhere.

"All you have to do is look to the play of Shandon Anderson and Howard Eisley and even Bryon Russell to see that he does a good job with younger players," said Howells. "Shandon and Howard signed new deals last year because this is where they wanted to play and Jerry was a big part of that."

While financial details of the deal were not made public, as per Jazz policy, it's safe to assume Sloan will make considerably more than the $1.25 million he earned last season. That made him the 23rd highest paid coach in the league.

The 56-year-old former All-Star player led the Jazz to a league-best 62-20 record during the 1997-98 campaign and the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year, his 10th as the head coach in Utah. It's not assumed that Sloan will make Rick Pitino-like money under the new pact - the Boston Celtics coach pockets $7 million per year - but it's not unreasonable to think that Sloan will earn $7 million over the course of the three-year deal.

The Jazz and Sloan had a new contract all but worked out more than a month earlier, but they waited to make it official until after the dust had settled on the long playoff run.

Sloan, on his farm in southern Illinois, was unavailable for comment Thursday morning.