SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz have made it clear they see Will Hardy as the coach to lead the team out of a long rebuild.

Hardy has agreed to a multi-year extension through the 2030-31 season, the team announced Monday.

“Will is an incredible leader, great communicator – especially with our younger players – and a strong ambassador for this franchise,” team owner Ryan Smith said, adding: “There is no one we would rather have leading us to our ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship here in Utah.”

Hardy, 37, was hired before the 2022-23 season — the same offseason the Jazz hit the reset button, trading away franchise pillars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. That’s made wins hard to come by for one of the youngest coaches in the league.

Hardy has compiled an 85-161 record in his three seasons, with no playoff appearances; however, his teams overachieved in his first two years and were in postseason contention before midseason trades forced a tumble towards the bottom of the standings.

This past season, the Jazz didn’t wait till February to tank. Utah’s front office told coaches to prioritize youth, even if it hurt the Jazz’s chances of winning — it did. Utah finished with a league-worst 17-65 record.

Monday’s extension is a sign the Jazz don’t hold that record against their head coach.

“Will’s leadership has been invaluable to our program,” said CEO of Jazz Basketball Danny Ainge. “He has established a vision for our players and a strong foundation of core values, competitive habits, and growth mindset. He is one of the brightest young coaches in our league, and we are incredibly fortunate to have him.”

Hardy, who has brushed off any notion that he’d be interested in leaving the team during the rebuild, said he believes in what the team is building.

“I love Utah and the Jazz organization and am extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue to help guide our team,” he said. “We have a talented group of coaches and people all working to build a Championship program for this incredible fan base.”

This story will be updated.