Austin Ainge Named President of Basketball Operations for Utah Jazz
Salt Lake City, UT – The Utah Jazz announced on Tuesday that Austin Ainge has been appointed as the new president of basketball operations, marking his return to Utah after a notable career in basketball. Ainge, 43, is stepping into a critical role within the Jazz front office, where he will succeed in steering the team towards future success while collaborating closely with his father, Danny Ainge, the team’s CEO, and Justin Zanik, the general manager.
In a press conference, team owner Ryan Smith emphasized Ainge’s authority in decision-making, stating, “Austin will be running the program. He’s got final recommendation to myself on any decisions that need to be made.”
Ainge, who played for BYU from 2003-07, enjoyed a steady collegiate career, averaging 7.9 points and 4.4 assists per game during his senior year. Following a brief coaching stint at Southern Utah, he joined the Boston Celtics, where he made significant contributions over a decade in various roles, including director of player personnel and assistant general manager.
This role with the Jazz becomes available after Danny Ainge transitioned from the Celtics to Utah. Smith noted the team’s ambitious scheduling in scouting, indicating that both Austin and Zanik would work seamlessly in optimizing player management.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Austin Ainge remarked, “I have lived this my whole life, constantly studying teams, talent, chemistry and the selflessness necessary to win. I look forward to bringing that to Utah and am excited to give Jazz fans a lot to cheer about as we build our program back up.”
With a rich background and anew vision, Ainge aims to rejuvenate the Jazz and inspire their fanbase in the seasons ahead.
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