After playing the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City, the Bulls were stunned Thursday to learn that long-time Jazz coach Jerry Sloan had suddenly resigned.

"I was shocked and sad a little bit," said forward Carlos Boozer, who played six seasons for Sloan. "The NBA, we lost a great one when he retired."

There have been media reports that a conflict with former Illinois star Deron Williams during the game against the Bulls was behind Sloan's sudden departure, but Boozer had his doubts.

"I can't speculate because I'm not in that locker room anymore," Boozer said. "But I'll tell you this: from all my time being there, no one could push Jerry out of coaching. He was in a position where he could leave whenever he wanted to leave.

"I don't believe that Deron pushed him out. I don't believe that management pushed him out. That's what I believe, but I'm not there."