Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney to have 2nd interview with Jazz

The Dallas Mavericks made a massive defensive improvement this year to finish in the top ten in defensive rating. First-year head coach Jason Kidd received a ton of the credit, but assistant coach Sean Sweeney was the team’s defensive coordinator and helped architect the scheme.

Sweeney has been around the NBA. He got his first chance under Jason Kidd in Brooklyn back in 2013. The 37-year-old spent just one season with the Nets before joining Kidd in Milwaukee. After four years with the Bucks, Sweeney spent three years in Detroit before re-joining Kidd in Dallas last summer. He has spent nine years as an assistant, but the Mavs defensive coordinator is earning consideration for head coaching gigs.

Sweeney interviewed with the Charlotte Hornets in May but failed to make the three finalists. After Quin Snyder stepped down earlier this month, the Utah Jazz interviewed a massive list of candidates, including Sweeney, and the Mavericks assistant will have a second interview, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney to have 2nd interview with Utah Jazz

Charania reported the Jazz are bringing back 15 candidates for a second interview for one of two open head coaching gigs after Kenny Atkinson turned down the Hornets job to stay with the Golden State Warriors. Frank Vogel and Terry Stotts are the only two previous head coaches on Utah's list.

Former Mavericks guard and current Grand Rapids Gold head coach Jason Terry joins Sweeney on the list of candidates receiving their second interview with the Jazz. Alternate governor and CEO Danny Ainge does not appear close to deciding on who will coach the Jazz next season, and Utah appears to be in no rush, despite the draft and free agency going down over the next two weeks.

Sean Sweeney will get his shot as an NBA head coach soon enough. The 37-year-old proved the impact he can make in Dallas this season, and it will be interesting to see how close he gets to landing the head coaching job in Utah. Stay tuned to The Smoking Cuban for all the latest.