Jeff Hornacek is a former NBA player, and his father was also a famous basketball player as well. After he retired as a player, he later became head coach of the Suns and the Knicks.
He has joined the Utah Jazz as a consultant coach and assistant for head coach Will Hardy for the new 2023 NBA season. Back in the 1990s, Jeff was one of the most important team players for the Utah Jazz and even was in a match against famous Nike star Micheal Jordan.
Here are the complete details about Jeff Hornacek, his career, and his family and daughter. Read on for all the nitty gritty details. Like his peers in the NBA industry, he has amassed some impressive fortune as a player and coach. Let’s check it all out here.
Profile Summary
Full Name | Jeffery John Hornacek |
Date of Birth | May 3rd, 1963 |
Age | 61 years old |
Place of Birth | Elmhurst, Illinois |
Ancestry | Czech |
Father | John Hornacek |
NBA Playing Career | Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz |
NBA Coaching Career | New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz |
Marital Status | Married to Stacy Nelson (since 1986) |
Children | 3 |
Net Worth | $12 million |
Jeff Hornacek Biography
Jeffrey John Hornacek was born on May 3, 1963. He’s an American basketball coach and used to play basketball, too.
He went to Komarek Elementary School in North Riverside, Illinois, and then Gurrie Middle School and Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Cook County, Illinois.
Now, he assists the Utah Jazz in the NBA as a coaching consultant. Before that, he was the main coach for
He served as the head coach for the Phoenix Suns between 2013 and 2016 and later for the New York Knicks from 2016 to 2018.
He also helped out as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets. Jeff served as a shooting guard in the NBA from 1986 until 2000 and played college basketball at Iowa State University.
Basketball Career
Jeff wore the ISU (Iowa State University) red jersey in 1981; he was a team member from 1982 to 1986. His father was a high school basketball coach when he was young, and this inspired him to play basketball, where he won an all-conference player in the Big Eight Conference.
Hornacek led the Cyclones to the Sweet Sixteen of the 1986 NCAA tournament as a point guard. This was a big moment at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.
First, he made a shot to tie the game and force overtime. Then, in overtime, Hornacek hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer—a 26-foot jumper. This victory against Miami University on March 14, 1986, with a score of 81–79, was special because it was ISU’s first NCAA tournament win since 1944.
Two days later, he guided the Cyclones to the round of sixteen in the NCAA Tournament with a surprising 72–69 win over second-seeded Michigan. Coach Orr, who had moved from Michigan to coach at Iowa State, considered it the best career victory.
Jeff left ISU with an impressive record of 665 career assists and 1,313 career points in the Big 8. In 1991, he became the fourth player in Cyclone basketball history to have his number retired. His No. 14 jersey was honored by hanging it from the rafters of the Hilton Coliseum.
Phoenix Suns
Jeff got picked as the 22nd choice in the second round (46th overall) of the 1986 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns.
The pick traded hands a few times before reaching the Suns. First, the Los Angeles Lakers included it in a deal to get Byron Scott from the San Diego Clippers in 1983–84.
Later, the Clippers sent the pick to the Detroit Pistons to get Ricky Pierce, and on the same day, the Pistons traded it to the Suns for David Thirdkill.
The Suns struggled initially, but with Cotton Fitzsimmons as coach and Tom Chambers as a new player, they went from 28 wins in 1987–88 to 55 in 1988–89. He played a crucial role as the “As part of the offensive lineup, he served as the third choice, following Chambers and Kevin Johnson.
This trio played a crucial role in the Suns’ success, leading them to four consecutive NBA playoff appearances, including two Western Conference Finals, during the 1991–92 season.
He also won NBA Player of the Month honors in December 1991.
Philadelphia 76ers
In 1992, Jeff got traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Andrew Lang and Tim Perry, in exchange for Charles Barkley.
Even though Hersey Hawkins was the Sixers’ top scorer as a shooting guard, Hornacek had to be the point guard.
Despite achieving a career-high of 6.9 assists per game in his only full season with the Sixers (1992–93 season), his time as a point guard wasn’t very successful (26 wins, 56 losses).
In the middle of the 1993–94 season (on February 24), he got traded to the Utah Jazz (for Jeff Malone) to return to his natural shooting guard position alongside John Stockton.
Utah Jazz
Like his role in Phoenix, Jeff Hornacek played a supporting role as the “third option” alongside Karl Malone and Stockton in Utah.
He played a crucial part in the Jazz’s journey to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, although they lost to the Chicago Bulls both times.
He stayed with the Jazz until 2000 when knee issues led to his retirement. It was disclosed that he had the absence of the left meniscus as a result of wear and tear on his body.
His knee problems were severe enough that he might have needed knee reconstruction because it was also arthritic.
On November 23, 1994, something remarkable happened in one of his basketball games.
He achieved a special feat by making eight three-pointers in a row, a big deal in the NBA. In that same season, he tied another record by hitting 11 consecutive three-pointers from December 30, 1994, to January 11, 1995.
He was skilled at free throws, even making 67 in a row from November 12, 1999, to January 6, 2000. Before taking a free throw, he touched the side of his face three times, kind of like saying hi to his three kids—Tyler, Ryan, and Abigaile—while playing.
Jeff is known as one of the best free throw shooters in NBA history, with an impressive percentage of 87.7.
He won the NBA three-point competition twice and, along with Natalie Williams from the Utah Starzz, emerged victorious in the All-Star 2-Ball Challenge.
In 1999-2000, he decided to stop playing basketball to spend more time with his family. The Utah Jazz, his team from 1994 to 2000, honored him by retiring his No. 14 jersey.
He was on the Jazz team that reached the NBA Finals in the years 1997 and 1998, with Coach Jerry Sloan and Jazz announcer “Hot Rod” Hundley affectionately called him “Horny.” Jeff had a 14-year career in the NBA, playing in 1,077 games.
Coaching Career
Jeff changed careers to coaching after a successful career as a pro baller. He became the Utah Jazz’s acting assistant coach from 2007 to 2008 and fully became the assistant coach in 2011.
In May 2008, he was to be the head coach for the Chicago Bulls, but he refused, mostly so that he could have time for his children, and as they were too young for the incessant travels that being the Chicago Bulls coach would demand.
Jeff was also the coach of the Philadelphia Sun’s Summer League team in Las Vegas in 2013. In his first season with the team, he led them to victory against the Portland Trail Blazers.
In December 2013, he won the NBA Coach of the Month award because he led the team to a 10–3 record and Player of the Month.
Daughter
Abby Hornacek was born on April 25, 1994, and is 30 years old. She was raised in Paradise Valley with her two brothers, Tyler and Ryan.
She studied at Xavier College and was a volleyball player for the school team. She won the Class 5A Division title in just three years of enrolment. She later left for the University of Southern California, and in May 2016, she graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
Abby is currently a Fox Nation’s PARK’D, Ride to Work series, and an American Arenas host, where she was initiated into the subscription streaming service.
She worked for Fox Sports in the San Diego office from 2014 to 2016. At first, she was a production intern, but she then became a reporter and co-host of Prep Insider.
Wife
Jeff and his wife, Stacey, tied the knot on June 7, 1986, and they have three grown kids: Ryan, born in 1989). Tyler was born in 1990, and Abby was born in 1994.
While Abby is a host for Fox Nation, Tyler is an executive accountant for the University of South California Sports Properties based in LA, and Ryan lives with his lovely wife, Casey, in Chicago, where he is an Analytical Lead for Google.
Jeff Hornacek Net Worth
Jeff Hornacek’s Net Worth is 12 million dollars. Most of his wealth is from his time as an NBA coach and playing career, which had increased his wealth immensely.
Jeff’s Salary as a Player
Jeff earned a fortune, earning millions of dollars as a basketball player.
Here are the details of his time as a player for the NBA.
Team and Season | Income |
Phoenix Suns – 1990-1991 | $1.1M |
Phoenix Suns – 1991-1992 | $1.4M |
Philadelphia 76ers – 1992-1993 | $1.6M |
Philadelphia 76ers – 1993-1994 | $1.94M |
Utah Jazz – 1994-1995 | $2.12M |
Utah Jazz – 1996-1997 | $2.39M |
Utah Jazz – 1998-1999 | $3.45M |
Utah Jazz – 1999-2000 | $5.2M |
Jeff’s Salary as a Coach
Jeff Hornacek ended his playing career in 2000 because he needed to spend time and relax with his wife and kids.
He returned to the National Basketball Association to the State of Utah basketball team Jazz as a special assistant coach for the 2007 / 2008 season.
He coached Andrei Kirilenko mostly on his shooting skills, which improved considerably. He was promoted to full assistant coach when Phil Johnson and Jerry Sloan quit the NBA in 2011.
He then went on to coach his former team, the Phoenix Suns, where he was their head coach for three years. This was after he’d spent two seasons with the Utah Jazz.
Jeff also signed a three-year contract agreement with the Phoenix Suns in 2014 for a whopping $6 million, which resulted in a monthly salary of $2 million.
Jeff Hornacek’s Assets
Jeff has earned a lot of wealth and money as an NBA coach, just like his peers. His wealth and good fortune allowed him to live a luxurious life with his wife, Stacy, and three children.
His first home was a beautiful estate in Arizona’s Paradise Valley. After a thorough refurbishment job, he received the sack from the Suns and sold the house for $2.99 million.