Sloan will be enshrined in September along with former Jazz star John Stockton, whose election to the Hall of Fame was reported by the Tribune on Friday night.

The official announcement regarding the entire Class of 2009 comes Monday in Detroit, site of this year's Final Four.

Sloan is the fourth winningest coach in NBA history. Last November, he notched his 1,000th win as coach of the Jazz. A month later, celebrated his 20th anniversary as the head coach in Utah. He is the longest tenured coach or manager in American professional sports.

"That means you don't have much time left," Sloan said earlier this week, when asked about his accomplishments this season. "You're playing on a short rope."

Sloan has never been to the Hall of Fame, which is located in Springfield, Mass. He admitted knowing little about it, other than the fact that his college coach at Evansville, Arad McCutchan, is already enshrined there.

When he was nominated for the Hall of Fame with Sloan, Stockton said, "I am such an admirer of Jerry, on so many different levels. To have him get this kind of recognition -- even though he resists it so heavily -- is just outstanding."

Said Jazz assistant Scott Layden: "Basketball-wise, Jerry has always done it the right way. He's never compromised his principles or his beliefs. He's never compromised the integrity of the team for his own gain, which happens a lot in this business. But more important, he's a Hall of Fame guy -- a wonderful person."

Along with the season's milestones, however, Sloan has endured considerable sadness.

On Feb. 20, Jazz owner Larry Miller died of complications for diabetes. A week later, former Chicago Bulls teammates Johnny "Red" Kerr and Norm Van Lier died on the same day. Last Tuesday, Sloan's oldest brother, Buck, died.

Stockton, meanwhile, will enter the Hall of Fame with his longtime coach.

The NBA's career assist and steals leader, Stockton was a 10-time All-Star who spent his entire 19-year career with the Jazz. He is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist, having represented the United States in Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996).

Asked what made Stockton a Hall of Famer, former Jazz coach Frank Layden said, "His intelligent play. He was a great decision-maker. The hardest thing for young players who come into this league is learning when to shoot and when to pass, and he had that knack."

As a rookie in 1984-85, Stockton shot 47 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free-throw line. Both were career-lows.

"He made a decision after his first year that he was going to be a very good shooter and that's what happened," Layden said. "He went out, worked on his outside shot and, when he did that, he became terrific."

Stockton finished his career with 15,806 assists. Mark Jackson is second on the NBA's all-time list with 10,334.

"That assist record will never be broken," said former teammate Jeff Hornacek, who suggests Stockton was one of the game's best closers.

"He was one of the all-time clutch players," Hornacek explained. "When the game was on the line, we knew that he was going to get off a good shot or he was going to create one for somebody else.

"When you have a guy like that, you knew if you were anywhere near the other team at the end of the game, you had a chance. ... That's what made him a great player."

Sloan and Stockton were among 16 finalists for Hall of Fame induction. Both received a least 18 votes from the 24-member Honors Committee.