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Sarah Todd
Guest
The Miller family unveiled the new 14-foot high J-Note statue on the plaza of Vivint Arena and let the public take self-guided tours of the renovation arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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We are less than two weeks away from the Utah Jazz all returning to Salt Lake City for training camp, which begins on Sept. 28.
When the team comes together at Zions Bank Basketball Campus later this month there will not only be new faces and additions to the player roster along with training camp invitees, but also new faces on the Jazz’s coaching staff.
The Jazz added Erdem Can and Irv Roland to the coaching staff this offseason. Here’s what you need to know about both coaches:
Can, a Turkish native, came up playing in the Turkish youth clubs starting when he was 13 until he was 18. Earning a master’s degree in political science and public administration from Ankara University in 2003, Can later transitioned to coaching and has been doing so at the professional level since 2008.
Can spent the last nine years as an assistant under head coach Zelijko Obradovic for Fenerbahçe, where Bojan Bogdanovic spent the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons before coming to the NBA.
In addition to his Turkish coaching duties, Can also served on the Summer League coaching staff for the Utah Jazz several times over the past few years.
Roland worked his way up through the NBA coaching ranks starting as a video assistant with the Boston Celtics in 2004. He then went to work for the New Orleans Hornets and then Phoenix Suns before joining Mike D’Antoni’s staff in Houston from 2017-19.
Throughout his career, which also includes individual training, Roland’s calling card has been his one-on-one development with players like Kevin Durant, Trae Young and James Harden. ESPN once called Roland Harden’s secret weapon.
Roland is also a passionate activist who has called on athletes to be more engaged and connected with their communities.
New with the Jazz
This week on ‘Unsalvageable’
Check out “Unsalvageable: A Utah Jazz Podcast,” hosted by Deseret News Utah Jazz beat reporter Sarah Todd and lifelong Jazz fan Greg Foster (no, not that Greg Foster). This week, the crew answers listener questions on topics that cover everything from the the Jazz and the NBA at large, to book recommendations.
New episodes come out every week. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast and anywhere else you stream podcasts.
From the archives
Extra points
- Donovan Mitchell on Jazz bouncing back, injury, education and more (The Athletic)
- Shaq: Jazz biggest threat to Lakers in West (KSL Sports)
Around the league
The Houston Rockets and John Wall are working toward parting ways.
Milwaukee Bucks make Lisa Byington first full-time, female TV play-by-play announcer in major men’s pro sports.
Tracking player movement, the latest 2021-22 NBA rosters.
Up next: NBA preseason
Oct. 4 | 6:30 p.m. | Utah Jazz @ San Antonio Spurs | TBD
Oct. 6 | 6 p.m. | Utah Jazz @ Dallas Mavericks | TBD
Oct. 11 | 7 p.m. | Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans | TBD
Oct. 13 | 7 p.m. | Utah Jazz vs. Milwaukee Bucks | TBD
*Broadcast information for preseason games to be announced at a later date.
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