Former BYU Basketball Star Takes New NBA Front Office Role

From the Marriott Center hardwood to the top of an NBA front office, Austin Ainge’s rise is more than a basketball story, it’s a full-circle homecoming.

The Utah Jazz announced Monday that Ainge, a BYU standout from 2002 to 2007, has been named the franchise’s new President of Basketball Operations, placing the former Cougar captain in one of the league’s most influential front office roles.

For Cougar fans who remember Ainge’s fierce leadership, sweet shooting stroke, and back-to-back NCAA tournament trips in 2006 and 2007, this moment is a testament to the long arc of his basketball journey.

“I have lived this my whole life, constantly studying teams, talent, chemistry and the selflessness necessary to win,” Ainge said in a statement. “I couldn’t be more excited about the bright future of this organization.”

That “whole life” includes 17 years with the Boston Celtics, where Ainge worked his way up from scout to assistant GM. Along the way, he helped construct title-contending rosters featuring Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porziņģis, building a deep reputation for elite talent evaluation.

Now, Ainge joins his father, Danny Ainge, CEO of the Jazz and another BYU basketball legend, to shape the next chapter of Utah basketball.

Ryan Smith, Jazz co-owner, called the hire a “game-changer,” praising Ainge’s “incredible insight into every part of an organization.”

It’s also a move that resonates deeply with the BYU community. Ainge is one of just three players in Cougar history to rack up over 1,000 points and 400 assists, and his court vision, both then and now is the stuff of legend.

As the Jazz look to return to championship contention, Ainge will team with GM Justin Zanik and head coach Will Hardy, who was recently extended through 2031 to rebuild Utah into a serious Western Conference contender.

For BYU fans, it’s another powerful reminder: Provo is a launchpad for greatness, and Austin Ainge is still making big plays, the only difference is now, it’s from the front office.