Former Celtics Coach Joe Mazzula Heading to Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT. - The Utah Jazz have hired Joe Mazzulla as their new head coach, the team announced Wednesday, signing the former Boston Celtics head coach to a four-year, $32 million contract.
For Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, it's a reunion years in the making—and a second chance at a coach he's coveted since his days running the Celtics front office.
Ainge attempted to bring Mazzulla to Utah back in 2022 when the Celtics were searching for a replacement after the dismissal of Ime Udoka. However, the move was blocked by then-Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, who instead promoted Mazzulla to interim head coach before eventually removing the interim tag.
Now, five years later, Ainge has finally landed his target.
"Joe is a winner, plain and simple," Ainge said in a statement. "His basketball IQ, his defensive principles, and his ability to develop young talent made him our top choice from day one. We're thrilled to bring him to Salt Lake City."
Mazzulla's tenure in Boston ended on a sour note after two tumultuous seasons that saw the Celtics post a combined 71-93 record (30-52 in 2025, 41-41 in 2026).
While the organization anticipated a down year in 2025 following Jayson Tatum's season-ending Achilles tear, Mazzulla's inability to unlock a talented core of a healthy Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and newly acquired Lauri Markkanen in 2026 ultimately cost him his job.
The Celtics moved first, signing former UConn head coach Dan Hurley—the two-time reigning NCAA champion—to a lucrative deal before Mazzula agreed to terms with the Jazz. The move was celebrated in Boston, while Mazzulla's exit drew little fanfare from a frustrated fanbase.
For Mazzulla, the criticism stung—but didn't break him.
"Boston is a tough place to coach, and I get it—expectations are championship or bust," Mazzulla said during his introductory press conference in Salt Lake City. "But I also know what I'm capable of. Sometimes the circumstances don't align, and that's okay. I'm not running from what happened there. I'm learning from it and moving forward."
Mazzulla inherits a Jazz team that has missed the playoffs four consecutive seasons but possesses a promising young core led by 20-year-old franchise cornerstone Ace Bailey and second-year forward Cameron Boozer.
The Jazz finished 34-48 last season under Will Hardy, showing flashes of competitiveness before a late-season collapse derailed their play-in hopes. Mazzulla will be tasked with instilling defensive discipline and playoff mentality in a group that has underachieved relative to its talent.
He's under no illusions about the challenge ahead—particularly in a loaded Western Conference.
"The West is a gauntlet, no question," Mazzulla said. "You've got Oklahoma City, Denver, the Lakers, Dallas—teams that have been there and know how to win. But that's what excites me. We're not looking for participation trophies. We're building something that can compete with anyone, and that starts with our mentality and our defensive identity."
When asked about the criticism he faced from Celtics fans during his final season—including chants of "Fire Joe!" at TD Garden—Mazzulla was characteristically unfazed.
"People are passionate, and I respect that," he said with a slight smile. "But I don't coach to be popular. I coach to win. If people want to question my approach or my record, that's their right. I'm focused on the guys in our locker room and getting the most out of them every single night.
"The noise doesn't bother me. Never has, never will."
It's that mental toughness—combined with his defensive acumen and player development track record—that convinced Ainge and Jazz President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge that Mazzulla was the right man for the job.
Mazzulla's teams in Boston were known for their aggressive defensive schemes, high-pace offense, and emphasis on three-point shooting. He's expected to bring that same philosophy to Utah, where the Jazz ranked 23rd in defensive rating last season under Hardy.
"Defense travels, and it's going to be our foundation," Mazzulla said. "We've got the pieces to be elite on that end with guys like Anthony Black and Cameron Boozer who can switch and disrupt. Once we establish that identity, everything else flows."
The Jazz also possess offensive firepower in Bailey and sharpshooting guard Cam Thomas, giving Mazzulla weapons similar to his best teams in Boston.
For Mazzulla, the Utah job represents both redemption and opportunity. At 39 years old, he's still one of the youngest head coaches in the NBA, and a successful stint with the Jazz could reestablish him as one of the league's rising coaching minds.
For the Jazz, the stakes are equally high. After cycling through coaches and missing the playoffs since 2022, the franchise needs stability—and results. Ainge has made his bet. Now it's up to Mazzulla to deliver.
"I'm not here to rebuild forever," Mazzulla said. "I'm here to win. That's the expectation I have for myself, and that's the expectation this organization has. We're not sneaking up on anybody. We're coming to compete."
The Western Conference has been warned.
