The Long Island Nets have found their new head coach, naming associate head coach Shawn Swords to the job just hours after their former head coach, Mfon Udofia, was officially named an assistant coach by the Orlando Magic. Udofia was the winningest coach in Long Island history and has cemented himself in the franchise history books. Now Swords will have some big shoes to fill, but if anyone can fill them, he can.

The roots of Swords philosophy as a coach, whether it be assistant, associate, or head, go back over 20 years to his time with the Canadian national team. His mantra was simple – do what you do all the time to make yourself invaluable. Much like Jordi Fernandez’s mantra of getting one percent better every day. Playing for Team Canada, Swords was a teammate of Steve Nash and played under Jay Triano, who together led Canada to a 5-2 record in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Swords, 52, then returned to Canadian college ball where he was head coach at Laurentian University from 2007 to 2022 when Nash, then head coach of Brooklyn, recommended for an assistant job at the G League club.

Swords officially becomes the eighth head coach in franchise history. Swords spent the last three years as an associate head coach with the Long Island team. He’s equally responsible, along with Udofia, for the development of key Brooklyn players, including four members of the Flatbush 5, Noah Clowney, Dariq Whitehead and Jalen Wilson, and others, as well as players who spent time with Brooklyn, then moved on to other NBA clubs, including Killian Hayes, Drew Timme, and Kendall Brown, each one a successful rescue mission.

Now, he will be in charge of the development of whatever members of the Flatbush 5 return to Long Island for additional season as well as several players from last year’s team. Chaney Johnson, Malachi Smith and Grant Nelson, all of whom played for both Long Island and Brooklyn last season are likely to see time with Long Island as well as their 2026 second round pick, Tyler Bilodeau, who’s already signed to a two-way. At least three Summer League roster players are also destined for the G League: guard Dion Jones, forward Ben Humrichaus and center Duke Brennan.

Swords already has a great record of development in women’s basketball. His daughters, Syla and Savannah, are both top Canadian players. Syla was the youngest member of Canada’s women’s Olympic team in Paris. She was a five-star recruit at Long Island Lutheran and is now a top player at the University of Michigan.

He also played five college seasons at Laurentian from 1992-1997, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics. As a college player, he was a second-team All-Canadian, leading the Voyageurs to the CIAU national championship Final 8 semi finals in 1996-1997.

Prior to his coaching career, Swords played professionally overseas for a decade, from 1997 through 2007, in countries including France and Italy.

“Shawn has been a cornerstone of our staff since joining the organization, and we’re thrilled to elevate him to head coach,” said Long Island Nets General Manager Matt MacDonald. “He has been an invaluable presence on our bench and a trusted voice in the development of our players. His experience, basketball acumen and dedication to the organization have prepared him to lead our team on Long Island, and we’re excited to support Shawn and his staff as they guide the next generation of talent.”

Swords brings a very extensive international coaching experience to the role, having served as an assistant coach with the Canadian Junior National team in 2010 and 2011, and at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship.

Swords is currently serving an assistant coach for Brooklyn’s Summer League in Sacramento and Las Vegas.