Utah Jazz Head Coach Will Hardy Comments on Austin Ainge’s Appointment
The Utah Jazz made a significant move in their front office to kick off the offseason, announcing the hiring of Austin Ainge, the Boston Celtics’ assistant general manager, as their new president of basketball operations. Ainge, who spent 17 years with the Celtics — including six in his most recent role — is now set to lead Utah’s personnel decisions moving forward.
In the wake of this announcement, Jazz head coach Will Hardy shared his thoughts on Ainge’s arrival, expressing his excitement for the move and noting his familiarity with Ainge from their shared time in Boston. Hardy, who served as an assistant coach with the Celtics in 2021 before moving to the San Antonio Spurs, had the opportunity to work closely with Ainge during that period.
The Utah Jazz are hiring Boston Celtics assistant general manager Austin Ainge as the franchise's president of basketball operations, sources tell me and @TimBontemps. Ainge has spent the past 14 years working in Boston's front office, including the last six in his current role. pic.twitter.com/OE0hG7R2qa
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 2, 2025
“During my time with the Celtics, I really enjoyed working alongside Austin and came to deeply appreciate his basketball insight and acumen,” Hardy said. “Having Austin help guide our group as we continue to grow is huge for our program.”
The addition of Ainge strengthens the Jazz front office, which already includes Hardy, general manager Justin Zanik, and team owners Ryan and Ashley Smith. Notably, Ainge’s father, Danny Ainge, also plays a key role with the team as CEO, adding another layer of Celtics connections to the organization.
Ainge now faces the challenge of steering the Jazz through their ongoing rebuild, but with the full support of Hardy and the rest of the front office, he’s poised to play a major role in shaping the future of the franchise.
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