Steve Clifford has agreed a deal to become coach of the Charlotte Hornets, returning for a second career at work, the team announced Friday.
Clifford, who led the franchise to two playoff appearances in a five-year series that ended in 2018, returns after Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson changed his mind about accepting Charlotte’s job and decided to stay with the Warriors.
Clifford always had a strong working relationship with Hornets owner Michael Jordan, and fit the profile of what Jordan and general manager Mitch Kupchak wanted for this young, developing squad: a coach who could improve them. defensively and transform them into a playoff team. Clifford is well regarded among his fellow coaches and respected for maximizing talent on his lists in both Charlotte and Orlando.
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“We believe his previous experience and coaching philosophy make him the best coach on our team,” Kupchak said in a statement. “Steve has a proven track record of improving defenses and is focused on details. He has a history of maximizing players’ talent and working with them to develop and expand their skills. Steve is committed to playing at the same offensive pace as “Our fans are used to seeing the last few years. We are confident that they will be able to help our young players continue to grow as we look to take the next step as a team.”
Clifford met with property and management in recent days and quickly picked up momentum from his candidacy to return, sources said.
The Hornets also considered Mike D’Antoni, who recently interviewed Jordan, sources said.
Considered for a long time one of the best defensive coaches in the NBA, Clifford will be tasked with improving that end of the court for a Charlotte team that has finished among the top 10 NBA teams in three defensive rankings. last four seasons, including the 23rd ranking. in 2021-22.
In his five seasons with the Hornets, Charlotte’s defense ranked in the top 10 three times. His defenses finished eighth and 11th in two of his three seasons as coach of the Magic.
Charlotte finished last season in the NBA’s eighth offense, and has a lot of firepower at this end of the court between All-Star guard LaMelo Ball, restricted free agent forward Miles Bridges, guard Terry Rozier and striker Gordon Hayward, among others.
“This is a young and exciting team with a lot of talented pieces,” Clifford said. “Charlotte is a great city and I know first hand the passion the Hornets fans have for this franchise. I can’t wait to get back to the city and start working with our players.”
The reunion between Clifford and the Hornets comes after the team initially agreed a deal with Atkinson to replace James Borrego, who was fired in April after four seasons.
Clifford, 60, spent 196-214 in five seasons during his first stint with the franchise, which saw him lead the Hornets to their best record since returning to the NBA in 2004 as an expansion team. when they went 48-34 in 2016. The Hornets lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Miami Heat in seven games that year.
He led Charlotte to two of his three playoff appearances in the 18 seasons since returning to the league. Clifford’s 196 wins are the second in franchise history behind Allan Bristow, who coached the team in the early and mid-1990s. Clifford is tied with Bristow in most coached matches in franchise history.
After Clifford was fired by Charlotte in 2018, he was hired a few weeks later by the Magic, whom he coached for three years, including consecutive playoff appearances in his first two seasons, before both sides agreed to part ways. after a 21-61 campaign in 2020-21. He spent last season in a consulting role for Steve Nash with the Brooklyn Nets.
Clifford began his career working as a coach at several Northeastern universities, then coached as an assistant with the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Magic and Los Angeles Lakers before being hired by the Hornets in 2013 for the his first job as head coach. .
Clifford agreeing to coach the Hornets leaves one team, the Utah Jazz, without a head coach for next season, after longtime coach Quin Snyder decided to step down from the team earlier this month.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.