Jazz Players Laud Former Coach Ty Corbin

Mar 9, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Utah Jazz coach

during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrone Corbin’s tenure as the Utah Jazz head coach was embattled, at least among some media and fans. Never really put in a position to succeed, it could be argued he overachieved in some facets. Regardless how you may feel about him, the Sacramento Kings seem pleased enough to have him. And Jazz players have been weighing in as well, some saddened Corbin won’t be available for tonight’s game against the Kings due recent injury.

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gordon Hayward was looking forward to having a little reunion Monday night at Sleep Train Arena.“I think it will be good to see Coach Ty. He did a lot for us as players, individually, the time he was here (as) assistant and head coach,” Hayward said. “He did a lot for me. I got a chance to see him this summer, so it will be good to see him (again).”Turns out, the Jazz might not get a chance to catch up with their old boss.Corbin recently injured his Achilles tendon and has missed the Kings’ past two games, the Sacramento Bee reported. The 51-year-old Corbin is expected to be back in the “near future,” per beat writer Jason Jones, but it isn’t clear whether his return will be in time for his first game against the Jazz since the organization decided to part ways with him.Whether or not he gets to see his old coach this time, Hayward wasn’t surprised that another NBA team hired Corbin quickly after he spent the past 10 years as Jerry Sloan’s assistant and then as his replacement.“You kind of expected him to do that because he’s such a hard-working guy, and he’s a great guy and he knows the game,” Hayward said. “I’m happy for him.”–Jody Genessy, Deseret News"

There was relatively rampant speculation among some that Gordon Hayward didn’t like Corbin, usually followed by lamenting supposition that Hayward had lost his personal choice for Utah Jazz head coach in Jeff Hornacek, who was hired as the top dog in Phoenix the summer before last.

Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey reported to 1280/97.5 The Zone after the 2013 NBA draft that it was largely at Corbin’s urging that Utah brass worked so hard to move up to get Naismith College Player of the Year Trey Burke.

"“It’s definitely going to be good to see coach again, just say hello to him,” Trey Burke said. “He’s the guy who brought me to this organization. Everyone remembers their first coach. Ty did a lot for me, he’s helped me in a lot of ways.”“I always want to see coach do well,” Hayward said. “He was there for us, he pushed us, he wanted the best for us. I’m definitely glad that he was able to get a good job right away. I think it speaks a lot to what a good coach he is and person he is.”Corbin brings three decades of knowledge as a player and coach to the Kings bench. Rest assured, there will be many on his former team who will be happy to see him.“He’s my first NBA head coach so that means a lot to me,” Ian Clark said. “We all learned a lot from him. He was always positive with us and he always had us in the proper mindset.”–Tony Jones, Salt Lake Tribune"

A contingent of Jazz fans grew increasingly vocal about Ty Corbin during his tenure, wanting him fired with Twitter, Facebook and blog campaigns. Some even went so far as to vandalize his Wikipedia page.

After being hired by the Kings, Corbin coached the Sacramento summer league team to the championship in Las Vegas, a tournament the Jazz also attended.

Sometimes a change of scenery is simply called for.

"“I think it’s just one of those things where that’s kind of how the NBA works. It’s pretty rare to (have) somebody stay for a long time. That’s why Utah was a very rare case with Coach Sloan here for so long,” Hayward said of Sloan, who was Utah’s head coach for 23 years. “Sometimes you just need a fresh voice, and I think it’s good for both Ty and for us.”-Jody Genessy, Deseret News"

Always known as a player’s coach, DeMarcus Cousins is having a career year under the tutelage of Ty Corbin. And maybe more importantly, on pace for only eight technical fouls called against him this year. Cousins, with a rep for losing his cool on the court, led the NBA in technicals the last two seasons with 16 last season and 17 in 2011-12.