According to reports, the Orlando Magic have hired Steve Clifford as the team’s new head coach. Clifford reportedly agreed to a four-year contract with the team.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN broke the news this morning:
Steve Clifford has agreed to a four-year contract to become the new head coach of the Orlando Magic, league sources tell ESPN. Magic will hold a news conference today to introduce Clifford, who led Charlotte to two playoff appearances.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 30, 2018
Orlando Magic Hire Steve Clifford as Coach
Clifford, 56, spent the last five years as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets. The move is especially bold for a Magic team that hasn’t maintained a head coach for more than two years since Stan Van Gundy. However, Orlando’s president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman, is determined to land a coach who will lead the team long-term. After six straight losing seasons, Clifford will have to coach the team out of another rebuild.
Clifford coached Charlotte to a 196-214 record during his tenure as head coach there. He also missed 21 games of his final season due to sleep deprivation and severe migraines. The Hornets made the playoffs twice during his five-year tenure with the team. Clifford’s primary duties will be to develop the Magic’s core young players, Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon, as the team hopes to continue building.
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