The Orlando Magic will reportedly name Frank Vogel its new head coach soon. Attention though quickly turns to the staff he will surround himself with.
The Orlando Magic have reportedly hired Frank Vogel as their next head coach, agreeing to terms in principle to a four-year, $22-million deal according to various media reports.
It was a day that felt like a minor victory for Magic fans as the team inked a coach with a strong reputation and plenty of pedigree. It feels like the team has found a coach that can bring stability and get the most out of any roster.
The question now becomes what happens as he fills in his staff.
The Magic under Scott Skiles hired an incredibly capable coaching staff. Adrian Griffin is seen as one of the best assistant coaches in the league and was a serious candidate for the Magic job. Already it would seem Griffin is undecided on whether he will stay with the Magic.
Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports Griffin may be inclined to leave the Magic even with two years left on his deal. His relationship with several coaches around the league, including Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves, would make him valuable. However Griffin also worked with Frank Vogel while Vogel was working with the Boston Celtics.
Magic officials hope they can retain Griffin and maintain some continuity from the previous coaching staff.
Sources: Magic are hopeful to retain top assistant Adrian Griffin on Frank Vogel's staff, but unclear how Griffin will proceed.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 19, 2016
Griffin is certainly one of the best assistant coaches out there. Should become available, surely several coaches would love to bring him on staff.
The other coaches on the Magic’s staff — Monte Mathis, Conner Henry, Mario Elie, LaRon Profit and Jay Hernandez — all played key roles. When they were hired, many viewed it as a stellar staff.
Mathis served as Rick Carlisle‘s sort of defensive coordinator for several years before joining the Magic’s staff. Henry and Elie have both worked for several well-known coaches. It should be noted however, Henry is no longer listed on OrlandoMagic.com as an assistant coach.
Profit and Hernandez are both player development coaches who got their start with the Jacque Vaughn-led teams. They both should have good relationships with the Magic’s current crop of players.
But, as when any new coach gets hired, he is likely to bring in mostly his own staff. Profit and Hernandez were the only two coaches off of Vaughn’s staff to remain. And, remember, they work mostly in player development.
While Elie and Henry have worked for several teams, he has not crossed paths with Vogel yet. This would not preclude Vogel from hiring them, but certainly Vogel will want to bring in coaches he knows and trusts.
The composition of the staff though should remain relatively similar.
Vogel is a strong defensive coach. It is what he has built his reputation on. Having a veteran to coordinate it like Mathis would be valuable and help with some continuity.
Almost certainly though, Vogel will have to hire some coach with a strong offensive acumen. His offenses in Indiana were not always that strong. Even last year, his team struggled on that end while remaining elite on the defensive end. And no one sees this Magic team as currently constructed as elite.
While it remains uncertain what will happen to the members of the Magic’s assistant coaching staff, general manager Rob Hennigan was very open about considering them for the head coaching position. They are clearly well thought of and would be good additions to remain on the bench for the Magic.
Next: Orlando Magic agree to contract with Frank Vogel
While the Magic wait to make the official announcement they have hired Vogel, some thought to the staff may very well begin and figuring out who to retain to keep some stability and continuity from the previous staff should be considered quickly.