Jazz Assistant Coach Keyon Dooling Charged with Fraud, Placed on Administrative Leave

An off-the-court distraction that came at the worst possible time for the Jazz.

Keyon Dooling, who joined the Utah Jazz staff in September 2020 as a player development coach under head coach Quin Snyder, was placed on administrative leave by the organization Wednesday after being charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.

Dooling was one of three charged by federal officials Wednesday morning in an amended indictment, joining 16 others charged prior by federal officials in New York.

The Jazz issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

“Keyon made us aware of the situation this morning. It is a case concerning his time at the National Basketball Players Association, prior to him joining our organization. He has been put on paid administrative leave. Due to the ongoing legal process, we will refrain from further comment.”

It's not the news the Jazz nor Snyder wanted to hear on the eve of a do-or-die Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks, who took a commanding 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series Monday night after a lackluster performance by Utah.

Those charged are accused of trying to get reimbursed for fraudulent medical and dental services that never actually happened. Dooling is accused of obtaining approximately $350,000 from plan proceeds while the total accused by all 19 individuals and possibly others is said to be close to $5 million.

The charges carry a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Dooling played for Snyder at the University of Missouri, where Snyder served as head coach from 1999-2006. Dooling went on to play for seven teams in the NBA from 2000-13, averaging 7.0 points in over 700 career games.