Sloan steps down as Utah coach

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Jerry Sloan, the longest-tenured coach in American professional sports, surprisingly announced his resignation from the Utah Jazz Thursday.

He stepped down in the midst of his 23rd season with the team.

"My time is up and it's time to move on," Sloan said during a news conference announcing his decision. "I'm not looking for another job. My wife has got a job for me when I get home."

Phil Johnson, Sloan's chief assistant, also resigned.

"I came with him and I leave with him," Johnson said.

Assistant Tyrone Corbin was named the team's new coach and will make his debut in a home game Friday against Phoenix. Jazz officials said Corbin was not named on an interim basis but would take over the job full time.

Sloan, 68, left the Jazz with a career record of 1,221-803. He spent two seasons as coach of the Chicago Bulls before taking over in Utah and he became the first NBA coach ever to win more than 1,000 games with the same franchise.

He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame two years ago and is No. 3 on the all-time NBA victory list behind Don Nelson and Lenny Wilkins.

There were reports Sloan's departure was triggered by an argument he had with point guard Deron Williams, but that was not discussed during the news conference.

Sloan told Utah General Manager Kevin O'Connor Wednesday following a loss to the Chicago Bulls he was going to announce his resignation. O'Connor asked Sloan to sleep on that decision, but Sloan would not change his mind.