Utah Jazz: Frank Layden released from Salt Lake hospital

Former Jazz coach, general manager and team president Frank Layden was released Wednesday from a Salt Lake City hospital, where he was treated since late last week for a blood clot in his left lung.

Layden said his hospitalization included a routine stay in intensive care for about two days, but his life never was in danger and he's feel much better now.

The clot developed after a recent battle with pneumonia.

"It's a pretty common thing, they tell me," Layden said.

"I'm feeling a lot better," he added from his Salt Lake home. "I'm in good shape, and everything's going well. ... I want everybody to know that."

Layden said he'll remain on medication, and must check in regularly with his doctors.

"Otherwise," he joked, "they let me loose to do whatever I want."

Except, Layden added with a laugh, eat whatever he wants.

Layden coached the Jazz from December 1981 through December 1988, when then-assistant and current head coach Jerry Sloan was named to be his successor.

Sloan, incidentally, still is recovering from recent knee-replacement surgery and ensuing blood-clot complications.

Layden went 277-294 in the regular season during his tenure and won NBA Coach of the Year honors in 1984. He was named Jazz general manager in May 1979, and served as team president from the time he exited as coach until retiring on Dec. 29, 1999.

Layden's son, ex-Jazz and New York Knicks general manager Scott Layden, currently works as a Jazz assistant coach.

E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com