The Orlando Magic
Report says Orlando considering former Charlotte head coach
are planning to interview ex-Hornets coach Steve Clifford for their coaching position, according to a report.
In a sign they are widening their coaching search, the Orlando Magic will interview former Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford this week, The New York Times reported.
Clifford, 56, served as a Magic assistant coach for five seasons during Stan Van Gundy’s tenure, from 2007 through 2012.
Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman declined to comment when asked by the Orlando Sentinel whether he will interview Clifford. Clifford did not respond to a telephone message from the Sentinel.
But an interview with Clifford would make sense.
In 2013, when current Magic General Manager John Hammond ran the Milwaukee Bucks’ basketball operations department as the Bucks’ general manager, Hammond interviewed Clifford for the Bucks’ coaching vacancy. Clifford became one of three finalists for the job, joining Larry Drew and Kelvin Sampson, and was invited for a secondround interview. But Clifford accepted Charlotte’s head coaching job before the Bucks’ secondround interview took place.
Clifford’s tenure in Charlotte lasted five seasons and included two playoff appearances. He compiled a 196-214 regular-sea-
son record and a 3-8 postseason record with the franchise.
But the Hornets disappointed during the 2017-18 season, going 36-46 and missing the playoffs despite having All-Star point guard Kemba Walker healthy for the entire year. Dwight Howard, who was acquired in an offseason trade last summer, never fully jelled with his teammates.
Clifford also experienced a health scare. Suffering from crippling headaches brought on by a persistent lack of sleep, he missed 21 games from early December through mid-January while he took a leave of absence.
Clifford has said he has fully recovered and has made strides regaining a consistent sleep pattern.
The Hornets fired Clifford in April.
The Magic have been without a coach since they fired Frank Vogel on April 12.
Weltman and Hammond have interviewed Sampson (who is now the University of Houston’s head coach), San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka and Portland assistant coach David Vanterpool and also interviewed David Fizdale just before Fizdale accepted the New York Knicks’ coaching job.
It is unclear if the Magic have interviewed, or plan to interview, additional candidates.