Asst. Coaching Positions

[Guest]

For those of you, myself being one of them, that would like to see Alex English on our bench this year, this isn't the best of news as it leaves one less person for him to compete with. My biggest hope is that after the fiasco with long-time familiar face Issel, they're looking in a different direction than bringing in a former player...but perhaps the last sentence means that the job is essentially Del Harris' if he wants it.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah Jazz assistant Phil Johnson said Wednesday he has withdrawn as a candidate for the head coaching job with the Denver Nuggets.

"Although the Nuggets never offered me the job, the longer the process took, the easier it was for me to make the decision to remain with the Jazz," he said. "I was never sure that I would leave, even if the offer would have been extended."

Johnson reportedly was one of two finalists in Denver, along with Dallas assistant and former Lakers coach Del Harris.

For the past 14 seasons, Johnson has been the top assistant to Utah coach Jerry Sloan. He was the NBA's coach of the year in 1974-75, leading the Kansas City-Omaha Kings to a 44-38 record and second place in the Midwest Division. He coached the Kings from 1973-78 and the Kansas City-Sacramento Kings from 1984-87