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Orlando Magic hire Steve Clifford as head coach

By Ryan Doyle

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 25: Head Coach Steve Clifford of the Charlotte Hornets coaches his team against the Sacramento Kings on January 25, 2016 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 25: Head Coach Steve Clifford of the Charlotte Hornets coaches his team against the Sacramento Kings on January 25, 2016 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic have found their head coach. Former Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford will now lead the team, returning to the team he coached in the 2000s.

The Orlando Magic have hired Steve Clifford as the team’s next coach, the team announced Wednesday. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the hiring first, and Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel confirmed later.

In his previous stint with Charlotte, Clifford led the Charlotte Hornets two a pair of playoff appearances. Clifford took over a 20-win team and immediately brought them to a playoff with a 22-win regular season improvement.

The Hornets were stagnant the past two seasons and finished 36-46 in each campaign. Overall Clifford was 196-214 in his five years there.

But in that tenure, Clifford turned around a fledgling franchise into a perennial postseason contender. Although injuries hindered the Hornets’ development of late, Clifford proved himself as a legitimate NBA head coach who can lead reclamation projects.

His teams also built a solid and consistent identity.

Clifford’s Hornets teams finished outside the top 10 in defensive rating just twice in his five years (the last two years). And even in those two years, the Hornets had a positive net rating. The fact Charlotte missed the Playoffs those years is a bit of a statistical anomaly.

Injuries to the Hornets’ roster and difficulties for that team to win close games ultimately cost them their Playoff spot. It was disappointing for a franchise that had high hopes of making the Playoffs each of the last two years. Charlotte’s up and down play was disappointing for a team so talented.

But undoubtedly, Clifford is the best coach the Charlotte franchise has had since returning as the Bobcats.

Orlando will be looking for Clifford to lead a similar turnaround — from NBA joke to Playoff contender. The Magic have not made the playoffs since 2012 and have not sniffed a playoff appearance since. Clifford made the Hornets franchise a perennial Playoff contender.

And he has familiarity with the Magic organization.

Prior to his days at the helm in Charlotte, Clifford spent nearly a decade as an assistant to the Van Gundy brothers. He was an assistant coach with Jeff Van Gundy’s New York Knicks, before moving to the Orlando Magic during the Dwight Howard era.

The strong ties to Stan Van Gundy cannot be ignored. Since Van Gundy’s departure, Orlando has struggled. The front office and ownership may want to rekindle the success of past decades with Clifford.

Due to sleep deprivation and headaches, Clifford missed over 20 games last season. According to Wojnarowski, Magic team doctors are confident he will be ready to take on an NBA coaching toll.

At long last, the Magic’s long coaching search is over. They ended up with a coach with a solid track record and familiarity. He may not be the upstart everyone wanted, but Clifford has delivered before. And he has had success with the Magic before too.

Next: Jonathan Isaac was the rookie the Orlando Magic wanted

Whether that is enough to win again in Orlando. . . that will get determined in the next few years.