Orlando Magic name Scott Skiles’ coaching staff
The Orlando Magic named four new assistants to complete Scott Skiles’ coaching staff including Adrian Griffin, Mario Elie and Monte Mathis.
The Orlando Magic named four new assistants to join Laron Profit and Jay Hernandez on Scott Skiles’ bench. Adrian Griffin, Monte Mathis, Mario Elie and Conner Henry will complete Skiles’ staff.
Most of the coaching staff had been reported over the last several days with Adrian Griffin reportedly in line to be Skiles’ lead assistant. Griffin was an assistant with Skiles in Milwaukee before he joined Tom Thibodeau’s staff the last five years. Griffin has been in line to be a head coach for several years now and is very well respected.
So too is Mario Elie. Elie is probably most famous for the “kiss of death” celebration during the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals as the Rockets completed a 3-1 comeback to defeat the Phoenix Suns on their way to the NBA title. Yes, he was part of the Rockets team that swept the Magic out of the Finals.
After his playing career, Elie has been with five teams in nine years as an assistant coach. Most recently he worked with the Nets. He has been very much in demand as an assistant coach and has had some buzz as a future head coach.
Among the coaches Elie has worked with is Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, Avery Johnson and Lionel Hollins.
Adding to the experience on the bench is Monte Mathis. Mathis has spent the last four seasons as the “defensive coordinator” for Rick Carlisle on the Mavericks. The fact Carlisle trusted him to run his defense is certainly a sign of faith that Skiles got someone good for his staff (and Skiles is already a strong defensive coach too).
Before coming to the NBA, Mathis spent 11 years as an assistant at various colleges including Xavier and Ohio State (with Thad Matta).
Like Elie, Mathis has a player development background. So despite the Magic’s seeming focus on winning more immediately, they will still be looking to develop and improve the skills of the young players on the roster.
Unlike the previous coaching staff though, there is plenty of experience and plenty of head coaching potential too. It seems members of the staff will have specific goals and jobs to accomplish along with individual voices to chime in and help Skiles out.
The final new member to the staff, Conner Henry, spent the last two seasons as head coach of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the D-League. He won the D-League title in 2014, accumulating the league’s best record and Coach of the Year honors. The Mad Ants returned to the D-League Finals this year with him as head coach.
This seems a very complete staff.
The Magic should already be familiar with Laron Profit and Jay Hernandez. Both have been key development coaches for the Magic and both have developed key relationships with the Magic’s players already.
This is a staff that will still be heavy on player development, but also has tons of experience and potential to grow within the profession. This appears to be a very strong staff Scott Skiles has put together.