Why did Quin Snyder resign from Utah Jazz position? Looking at the reasons behind exit of potential new Atlanta Hawks head coach

Quin Snyder could be inching closer to his return as head coach in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks. Snyder last coached the Utah Jazz during the 2021-22 season. He led Utah to six consecutive postseason trips, recording nearly a 60% winning percentage with the franchise.

Snyder turned the Jazz into legitimate contenders during his last two seasons with the club. They were among the best two-way teams in the NBA during that stretch.

Why did Quin Snyder resign from Utah Jazz head coaching position?

It was surprising to many when Quin Snyder decided to step down as the Utah Jazz head coach. The team didn't enjoy postseason success under him, but they achieved plenty during the regular season, including a league-best finish in 2020-21.

Snyder kept it simple when asked his thoughts on leaving the Jazz, saying it was time to move on after eight years. Here's what he told reporters in his last interview (via NBA.com):

“At the core, and what drives me every day is our players and their passion for the game, their desire to constantly work to improve and their dedication to the team and the Jazz. I strongly feel they need a new voice to continue to evolve.

"That’s it. No philosophical differences, no other reason. After eight years, I just feel it is time to move onward. I needed to take time to detach after the season and make sure this was the right decision.”

Snyder's decision to leave the Utah Jazz came at the right time indeed. The Jazz committed to a rebuild by trading their All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. The former joined the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the latter went to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Jazz repeatedly failed to make the conference finals with their core, despite achieving tremendous success under coach Snyder. They boasted the league's best record just two seasons ago. However, the Jazz struggled to get past the conference semis throughout Snyder's tenure.

The Jazz cashed in on their stars and received blockbuster packages stacked with draft compensation and young players. Utah hired Will Hardy as their next head coach. He led them to a 8-3 record to start the season and has kept them in contention to make the play-in tournament.

Quin Snyder has the opportunity to secure a fresh start with another playoff hopeful, the Atlanta Hawks. Reports suggest the two parties have mutual interest.

Click here to read NBA.com's report on Snyder's exit from the Jazz.