7/10/25

Jay C. Brandriet

As someone who came to Utah at four years old in 1979, Frank Layden just always seemed to be around.

Frank passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

In 1984 Layden was Coach and Executive of the Year in the NBA.

He also took home the “J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship award.”

The man who accomplished this, was more known for being a comedian.

A personality so big, a generation grew up knowing him for co-hosting “Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers” with Marv Albert.

Having his name on the marquee as the team hosting would write “come see Frank Layden and the Utah Jazz.”

Mid game, he pulled out a comb and slicked back his hair as a gesture to Pat Riley. Of all the laughs and smiles in the arena, Riley’s was the brightest.

Larry Bird asked Frank, “You got anyone on that bench that can guard me coach?” Layden looked down the row of guys and responded, “Larry. I really don’t.”

Russ Riggs did a dramatic Layden impression that started off with….”HEY SPORTS FANS, COME GET YOUR (insert word to create the best joke possible that day).

My favorite is when Frank asked the ball boy for some water. He then told him to “drink it first.” The teenager took a sip while looking confused. Layden took the cup and said, “how do I know somebody didn’t put something in there?”

His personality was the sword that helped give the Jazz credibility.

Frank also drafted, coached, and sacrificed on a level that helped transform him into one of the most crucial figures in Utah Jazz history.

David Locke reminded folks today, after taking the Lakers to game 7, in 1988, Utah started off the next season 11-6. Layden resigned so Jerry Sloan would secure the job.

Locke added, “If there’s no Frank Layden, there is no Larry Miller.”

Frank’s kind and charitable acts, love of art, and charisma, make him one of the important characters in the state’s existence.

His East coast soul came out here and made the West better than he found it.

I’d interviewed Layden a couple of times and had seen him at games over the years.

My last encounter was the most memorable.

It was the Spring of either 2012 or 2013.

He was sitting in the lobby of the Village Inn on 900 East with his wife Barbara.

This was going to be a conversation I had to have.

I sat down and we started chatting away. He gave praise to my buddy Tony Parks calling him a “talented man with a good heart.”

He joked as I brought up another one of his friends.

“Listening to Hubie Brown draw up a basketball play, you’d think he was preparing for the invasion of Normandy.”

Layden annoyed me with his “LeBron is better than Kobe” rant.

I got through it.

As we were talking, Frank is letting tons of people go past him to get a seat.

At first, I thought, they aren’t that hungry. Maybe they were early?

After a while I realized this is a super friendly guy who would just love to talk all day.

Barbara was being more patient than I was.

She was quite aware of who she was with.

I finally stood up and said, “Coach. I don’t have to go, but you do. I insist you eat sir.”

Almost a little disappointed he said, “help me up young man.”

Proof of his impact in this community?

Frank Layden was done coaching in the NBA when I was 13 years old.

Yet he still had constant presence?

Fank Layden was always relevant in Utah.

Jay C. Brandriet