Mikhail Prokhorov

Who will be Mikhail Prokhorov's first Brooklyn coaching hire? (AP)

LATEST UPDATE: Former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has met with the Milwaukee Bucks about their open coaching position, and a reunion with Deron Williams in Brooklyn looks unlikely. More

Update: An insider tells NetsDaily that Phil Jackson is the only candidate the Nets have contacted so far. More

Update: Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge tells WEEI radio that he expects Doc Rivers back on the sidelines for Boston next year. More

Update: Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins is a team on Brooklyn's radar, should the Grizzlies decide not to re-sign Hollins after this season. More

Update: Despite earlier reports that both sides aren't interested, Jeff Van Gundy could still get a call from Brooklyn. More

Update: Brooklyn isn't the only team looking at Brian Shaw. More

Update: Jerry Sloan says he's spoken with a couple of teams. More

The Brooklyn Nets have opened up perhaps the most important coaching search in franchise history -- with the team finally in Brooklyn, with a talent-laden roster that wasn't properly utilized in its first year, the direction the team takes with its next coach could set up the next decade of relevance. Here's a command central of every coach connected to the search -- even if, at this time, they're not being considered for the position. Things change in an instant, after all.

Start with: Larry Brown

Larry Brown | Mike Dunleavy | Lionel Hollins | Phil Jackson | Nate McMillan | Doc Rivers | Brian Shaw | Scott Skiles | Jerry Sloan | Jeff Van Gundy | Stan Van Gundy

 

Williams with Jerry Sloan in 2008. (AP)

About two weeks before Deron Williams left the Utah Jazz in February 2011, Jerry Sloan retired from coaching after 23 years with the Utah Jazz. Sloan, now 71, retired midseason under murky circumstances; it was reported that his rocky relationship with Williams was a factor in his decision. But now it appears the coaching itch is back, and Williams's presence doesn't matter.

In a phone interview with Comcast Sports Net Northwest, Sloan said he was "open" to a coaching opportunity with Brooklyn. “I haven't done the research on their roster, but I would definitely listen if they called," Sloan added.

Billy King said Monday on ESPN that he has not made any calls, and the next coach would have to be someone he agrees with philosophically about basketball. In 23 years with Utah, Sloan coached a simplified pick-and-roll flex style offense to perfection with players like John Stockton, Karl Malone, Williams, Carlos Boozer, and more.

Sloan finished with just one losing season in his years with the Jazz, finishing his overall coaching career with a .603 winning percentage, 1,221 wins, and a 98-104 playoff record.

 

Nominees already suggested in the forums include:

Jerry Sloan
Phil Jackson
Jerry Stackhouse
Jerry Seinfeld
The Van Gundys
Butch Beard
John Calipari
Patrick Ewing

Who do you think should be the next Nets coach? Discuss here.