Frank Layden, the sharp-witted and charismatic former NBA coach and front office executive, died this week at age 93.

An inaugural inductee into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, he coached at St. Agnes and Seton Hall on Long Island. He was at Seton Hall from 1962 to 1966 and at Dowling College, then known as Adelphi Suffolk, through 1969.

After graduating from Niagara University with a B.S. in economics, Frank served two years in the army. Upon returning to civilian life, he accepted the JV coaching job at St. Agnes High School in Rockville Centre, NY. His success there landed him the coaching job at Seton Hall High School in Patchogue, where his team posted a 21-3 record in the 1964-65 season.

From there, he made his mark at Adelphi Suffolk in just one year. He began the athletic program and coached the men’s basketball squad to a 13-5 record. Frank returned to his alma mater, Niagara, in 1968 as athletic director and head coach. In eight seasons, he guided Niagara to 119 victories, a berth in the NCAA Tournament, and two trips to the NIT playoffs. Among the players he coached at Niagara was All-American and NBA All-Star Calvin Murphy.

Frank moved to the NBA in the late 1970s as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks. On May 9, 1979, he was named general manager of the Utah Jazz. He became the team’s head coach in 1981 and went on to post 277 wins in six-plus seasons. His clubs earned a berth in the playoffs five straight seasons. Frank was the 1983-84 NBA Coach of the Year and NBA Executive of the Year. That same year, he was the recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. Frank retired from coaching in 1988, but was always a coach at heart. He returned to the bench 10 years later to lead the Utah Starzz of the WNBA.

“There will never be another like him,” the Jazz said in a statement. “Frank Layden made a lasting impact on the Jazz, the state of Utah, and the NBA. Our thoughts go out to his family as we join in mourning his loss and celebrating his life. Rest easy, Coach.”

Layden is survived by his wife of many decades, Barbara; their three children, two sons and a daughter, and several grandchildren.