Kevin O'Connor (basketball)

Last updated

Kevin O'Connor (born c. 1947) is the former General Manager and a current Senior Basketball Advisor of the Utah Jazz. [1] [2] He took part in the drafting of Deron Williams in 2005. [3] O'Connor said he learned how to develop character profiles on players from Jazz executive Scott Layden. [4] O'Connor served as general manager from 1999 to 2012, and was succeeded by former San Antonio Spurs executive Dennis Lindsey. [5]

O'Connor was born in the Bronx, and grew up in Staten Island, New York. He graduated from Monsignor Farrell High School in 1965 and is a member of its Hall of Fame. [6] In 1969, he graduated from Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, with a degree in economics and business. In his senior year, he captained the basketball team to a 21–5 record. [1]

Early career

Director of player personnel, Philadelphia 76ers (1997–99)
Regional scout Utah Jazz (1994–97)
Regional scout Nets (1990–94)
Regional scout Portland Trail Blazers
Regional scout Los Angeles Clippers
Assistant coach UCLA (1979–84)
Assistant coach Virginia Military Institute (1974–76)
Assistant coach Colorado (1976–79)
Assistant coach Virginia Tech (1972–74)
Served in U.S. Army (1969–71)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utah Jazz</span> National Basketball Association team in Salt Lake City, Utah

The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. Since the 1991–92 season, the team has played its home games at the Delta Center, an arena they will share with the Utah Hockey Club starting with the 2024–25 NHL season. The franchise began as an expansion team in the 1974–75 season as the New Orleans Jazz. The Jazz relocated from New Orleans to Salt Lake City on June 8, 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Sloan</span> American basketball player and coach (1942–2020)

Gerald Eugene Sloan was an American professional basketball player and coach. He played 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) before beginning a 30-year coaching career, 23 of which were spent as head coach of the Utah Jazz (1988–2011). NBA commissioner David Stern referred to Sloan as "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history". Sloan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Krause</span> American sports executive (1939–2017)

Jerome Richard Krause was an American sports scout and executive who was the general manager of the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1985 to 2003.

Quin Price Snyder is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After being named a McDonald's All American as a high school player in Washington, he played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. He was the head coach of the Utah Jazz for eight seasons, and is known for being both an offensive and defensive minded tactician with a passion for player development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monsignor Farrell High School</span> Private school in Staten Island, New York, United States

Monsignor Farrell High School is an American Catholic high school for boys, located in the Oakwood section of Staten Island, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Dantley</span> American basketball player (born 1955)

Adrian Delano Dantley is an American former professional basketball player and coach who played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Dantley is a six-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection and a two-time NBA scoring champion. Dantley finished ninth on the all-time NBA scoring list at the time of his retirement and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. He served as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA from 2003 to 2011. He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Thorn</span> American basketball player (born 1941)

Rodney King Thorn is an American basketball executive and a former professional player and coach, Olympic Committee Chairman, with a career spanning over 50 years. In 2018, Thorn was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Layden</span> American former basketball coach

Francis Patrick Layden is an American former basketball coach and executive of the National Basketball Association's Utah Jazz as well as former head coach of the Women's National Basketball Association's Utah Starzz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allan Bristow</span>

Allan Mercer Bristow, Jr. is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive. Bristow played college basketball at Virginia Tech, and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 1973 NBA draft. A 6 ft 7 in, 210 lb (95 kg) small forward, he had a 10-year career in both the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA), playing for the Sixers, the San Antonio Spurs, the Utah Jazz, and finishing his playing career with the Dallas Mavericks. His nickname was "Disco".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrone Corbin</span> American basketball player and coach

Tyrone Kennedy Corbin is an American former basketball player who last worked as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Hornets. He was first appointed the assistant coach of the Phoenix Suns, then was named the Utah Jazz’s head coach, on February 10, 2011, following the resignation of longtime coach Jerry Sloan. He was also the brief interim head coach of the Sacramento Kings in the 2014–15 season before being replaced by George Karl. Prior to that, Corbin played 16 seasons in the NBA.

Delano Demps is an American professional basketball executive and former player who is a front office assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Utah Jazz and the general manager of the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans from 2010 to 2019. Demps played in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic after a college basketball career with the Pacific Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delaware Blue Coats</span> American professional basketball team of the NBA G League

The Delaware Blue Coats are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Wilmington, Delaware. They are the G-League affiliates of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Blue Coats play their home games at Chase Fieldhouse. The Blue Coats are owned by Josh Harris and David Blitzer under Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), who also own the 76ers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Maynor</span> American basketball player (born 1987)

Eric Demarqua Maynor is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for Virginia Commonwealth University. As a senior, he averaged 22.4 points, 6.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game in the 2008–09 season.

Edward Stefanski is an American sports executive and former professional basketball player. He currently is the Senior advisor of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Bertka</span> American basketball coach and executive (born 1927)

William M. Bertka is a current basketball consultant/special assistant and a former National Basketball Association (NBA) assistant coach, scout and executive with the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Jazz. A pioneering proponent of film study, advance scouting, player development and basketball analytics, Bertka has spent more than 50 years in the NBA and has been a part of 10 NBA championships with the Lakers, including seven as an assistant coach.

Dennis Lindsey is an American professional basketball executive who currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After holding the role of General Manager of the Utah Jazz from 2012 to 2019, Lindsey was then promoted to Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations in May 2019 up until the start of the 2021 season, where he later stepped down. He joined the Mavericks as an advisor in 2023.

Tim Connelly is an American basketball executive who is the president of basketball operations of the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously worked for the Washington Wizards and New Orleans Hornets, before becoming president of basketball operations at the Denver Nuggets. He served for the Nuggets from June 2013 onwards, until May 23, 2022, when Connelly agreed to a five-year, $40 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves to take over in the same role within the organization.

The 2019–20 Utah Jazz season was the 46th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 41st season of the franchise in Salt Lake City. It was announced that longtime Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley was traded to the Jazz after spending his first 12 seasons in the league with the Grizzlies. During the offseason Dennis Lindsey was promoted from General Manager to Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, while Assistant Justin Zanik was promoted to General Manager.

Troy Weaver is an American basketball executive. He is the senior advisor for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Justin Zanik is the general manager of the Utah Jazz.

References

  1. 1 2 "Basketball Operations: Kevin O'Connor". 2017/18 Utah Jazz Media Guide (PDF). p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-23. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  2. "Contact Us". Utah Jazz. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  3. Buckley, Tim (2006-06-25). "A look at the Jazz's draft picks under Kevin O'Connor". Deseret News. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  4. Jenkins, Lee (2003-12-17). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jazz Players Are Different, But the System Still Works". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  5. Smith, Brian T. (2012-09-01). "Utah Jazz name Dennis Lindsey new GM". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  6. "Hall of Fame". Monsignor Farrell High School. Retrieved 2020-02-10.