The Brief

The Orlando Magic finalized a deal to hire Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney as their next head coach.

Sweeney replaces Jamahl Mosley after Orlando’s third straight first-round playoff exit.

The move puts one of the NBA’s top young defensive minds in charge of a talented roster led by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic formally named San Antonio Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney as the franchise’s new head coach on Monday.

Sweeney becomes the Orlando Magic’s 16th head coach. This is his first head coach position. 

BOSTON, MA – JUNE 9: Assistant Coach Sean Sweeney of the Dallas Mavericks talks to the team during the game against the Boston Celtics during Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 9, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE  (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)

What we know

The Magic announced that the St. Paul, Minn. native would take over as head coach after serving as associate head coach for the Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs this past season. He’ll continue with the Spurs through the NBA finals, the Magic said in a news release. 

This news comes after reports that Sweeney was up for the position.

Sweeney, 41, replaces Jamahl Mosley, who was fired after five seasons despite leading Orlando to three consecutive playoff appearances. The move comes after the Magic suffered another first-round playoff exit and squandered a 3-1 series lead against Detroit.

Sweeney, a longtime assistant, emerged from a candidate pool that included veteran coaches Billy Donovan and Jeff Van Gundy. Sweeney is expected to remain with the Spurs until their postseason run concludes.

The backstory

Sweeney has spent more than a decade building a reputation as one of the league’s brightest defensive minds. After beginning his NBA career as a video coordinator with the New Jersey Nets, he worked his way through assistant coaching roles in Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Detroit, Dallas and San Antonio.

His stock rose sharply this season after helping transform San Antonio’s defense into one of the NBA’s best units. The Spurs built their defensive system around Victor Wembanyama, who went on to win Defensive Player of the Year honors.

What we don’t know

It’s unclear what changes Sweeney may make to Orlando’s coaching staff or how he plans to address the team’s offensive inconsistencies, which surfaced during the playoff collapse against Detroit.

What they’re saying

President of Operations Jeff Weltman welcomed Sweeney to the Orlando Magic family, saying that Sweeney brings a “tremendous work ethic” and “high degree of intensity” to his role as head coach. 

“We’re excited to welcome Sean (Sweeney) to the Orlando Magic family,” Weltman said. “Sean brings a tremendous work ethic and a high degree of intensity that set the tone for everything he does. Sean’s attention to detail and his ability to communicate and teach the game clearly stands out. He’s grounded in competitiveness and accountability, while also embracing a modern, creative approach to coaching.”

What’s next

The Magic will host an introductory press conference with Head Coach Sweeney after the NBA finals, the team said. 

The Source

Information in this story was gathered from previous reporting and an X statement from the Orlando Magic.Â