Phoenix Suns: Jeff Hornacek to be Suns’ New Coach

Yahoo Sports reported Sunday, May 26, that the Phoenix Suns have offered their head coaching job to former Suns guard Jeff Hornacek.

Jeff Hornacek has been an assistant coach for the Utah Jazz since 2011. (NBA.com photo)

Hornacek, currently an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz, is said to be finalizing a three-year contract, according to the report. The front office and Hornacek have also begun the process of assembling the rest of the coaching staff.

The Charlotte Bobcats interviewed Hornacek last week for their coaching vacancy.

Hornacek came to Phoenix as a second round draft pick in 1986 and became an All-Star for the Suns. He averaged 13.7 points and 5.4 assists per game from 1986-87 through 1991-92 and represented Phoenix at the 1992 All-Star Game.

Here are some highlights of Hornacek’s time with the Suns:

Hornacek was the key player who went to the Philadelphia 76ers in the June 1992 trade that brought Charles Barkley to Phoenix. Andrew Lang and Tim Perry also went to the 76ers in the deal.

Hornacek played less than two seasons in Philadelphia before he was traded with Sean Green and a 1995 second-round draft pick at the 1994 trade deadline to the Utah Jazz for Jeff Malone and a 1994 first-round pick. He later played in two NBA Finals with the Jazz before retiring after the 1999-2000 season.

He joined Tyrone Corbin’s staff with the Jazz in February 2011 as a full-time assistant coach in the wake of the resignations of head coach Jerry Sloan and top assistant Phil Johnson. He started working for the Jazz in 2007 as a special assistant coach, tasked with helping Andrei Kirilenko and other players improve their shooting.

Even though he left the Suns’ organization more than 20 years ago, Hornacek remains popular in the Phoenix area and keeps his offseason home there.

With six first-round picks over the next three years, the Suns will be strongly focused on player development as part of the rebuilding process and Hornacek fits the profile of a coach who would be able to grow with the team through that process.

According to Yahoo Sports, the Suns met with Houston Rockets assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Friday and have received permission to interview Los Angeles Lakers assistant Steve Clifford. Interim coach Lindsey Hunter also interviewed with the Suns.