When Quin Snyder signed on to be the head coach of the Utah Jazz in 2014, the franchise seemed poised for a return to prominence.
The team already sported Rudy Gobert, then added Donovan Mitchell in the 2017 NBA Draft.
This core, along with Joe Ingles and a rotating cast of veterans, helped secure Utah’s place among the Western Conference elite.
But playoff disappointments have dogged the group.
Last season, the Jazz finished the regular season with a 50-22 mark, giving them the NBA’s best record for the first time in franchise history.
The team then saw another early exit in the playoffs after squandering a 2-0 series lead to a Kawhi Leonard-less Los Angeles Clippers squad.
Utah retooled its roster once again around Mitchell and Gobert, thus shifting much of the pressure to their two stars and their eight-year head coach.
As a result, Snyder may find himself on the hot seat.
Snyder Came To Utah With A Compelling Resume
#OnThisDay 7 years ago, Quin Snyder became head coach of the Utah Jazz 📋 pic.twitter.com/UVzg80KiED
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) June 6, 2021
Snyder played point guard at Duke University under legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
While a student, Snyder earned both a law degree and M.B.A. from Duke.
While in graduate school, Snyder started his coaching career as an assistant with the Clippers.
From there, Snyder returned to Duke, where he became a full-time assistant coach under Krzyzewski.
After leaving Duke, Snyder’s coaching journey sports a number of interesting stops, including in Europe and the NBA’s developmental league.
Snyder signed on to be just the Jazz’s fifth head coach during their time in Utah, after assistant stints with the Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Atlanta Hawks.
Snyder helped guide the Jazz into the playoffs shortly after arriving as head coach.
However, despite five straight playoff appearances, Snyder-led teams have yet to progress beyond the second round.
Utah’s second-round record stands at 3-12 under Snyder, with two first-round losses mixed in.
Snyder On The Hot Seat
Quin Snyder really didn’t bother to double team that man all series. https://t.co/7E8dBrnUm6
— Carron J. Phillips (@carronJphillips) August 30, 2021
These playoff failings have pushed Snyder onto the hot seat, despite an excellent regular season record.
The Jazz hold the eighth-best championship odds for 2021-22, a season that might be Finals or bust for Snyder.
Utah’s concerning defensive collapse in last year’s playoffs certainly doesn’t help matters, especially considering defense remains Snyder’s specialty.
Anchored by a three-time Defensive Player of the Year in Gobert, the Jazz posted the league’s third-best defensive efficiency rating, allowing 107.5 points per 100 possessions.
But in the playoffs, the team tripped up and opponents inflated that number to 121.7.
Utah once again added complementary pieces to the roster this offseason, picking up Rudy Gay, Eric Paschall, and Hassan Whiteside.
While Whiteside provides a capable backup for Gobert, the additions of Gay and Paschall might help the Jazz deal with the small-ball lineups that plagued them in the playoffs.
There’s also a great deal of hope with 2021 first-round pick Jared Butler.
But if there’s another playoff failure, much of the blame will likely land with Snyder.
It’s hard to imagine the team will jettison Mitchell or Gobert before trying a new head coach.
Although Snyder has built the Jazz from a 25-win to a 50-win club, the team has yet to make an appearance in the Western Conference Finals with him as head coach.
He needs postseason success to secure his future in Utah.
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