Monday, May 7, 2018

Ranking the Tenures of Each Orlando Magic Head Coach

(Photo: Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic are searching for a new coach yet again, which will be their fourth in five offseasons.

The latest casualty was Frank Vogel, who failed to win more than 29 games in two seasons at the helm. Another former Orlando head coach parted ways with his team on Monday when it was reported that Stan Van Gundy's tenure with the Detroit Pistons had come to an end.

Whoever Orlando hires next will be its 10th full-time head coach in team history. The Magic have also had a few with an interim title such as Richie Adubato, Chris Jent and James Borrego.

Before Orlando picks a new head man, we decided to rank the tenures of the previous nine "full-time" head coaches:

9. Jacque Vaughn (2012-15)
Seasons: 3
Record: 58-158 (.269)
Accomplishments: None
Jacque Vaughn's first head coaching job in the NBA was a rebuilding one, but in three seasons with the Orlando Magic, Vaughn's teams never won more than 25 games. Vaughn was fired 52 games into his final season.

8. Frank Vogel (2016-18)
Seasons: 2
Record: 54-110 (.329)
Accomplishments: None
Given his track record in Indiana, it's hard to question Vogel's ability to coach as he was given a largely bare cabinet during his time in Orlando and dealt with numerous injuries. Vogel twice took the Pacers to the brink of the NBA Finals, but never sniffed the playoffs during his time with the Magic.

7. Johnny Davis (2003-05)
Seasons: 2
Record: 51-84 (.378)
Accomplishments: Eastern Conference Coach of the Month (November 2004)
Johnny Davis was named the successor to Doc Rivers once Rivers was let go after a 10-game losing streak earlier in the 2003-04 season. The team didn't play much better with Davis at the helm. He was let go with 18 games remaining in the 2004-05 campaign.

6. Matt Goukas (1989-93)
Seasons: 4
Record: 111-217 (.338)
Accomplishments: First head coach
The first head coach of the Orlando Magic, Matt Goukas never had a winning season, but did lead the team to a 41-41 record in his final season with a rookie center named Shaquille O'Neal. Goukas resigned after four seasons on the job.

5. Scott Skiles (2015-16)
Seasons: 1
Record: 35-47 (.427)
Accomplishments: Eastern Conference Coach of the Month (December 2016)
Scott Skiles spent just one season coaching the team he set the NBA single-game assists record for as a player. The Magic finished 35-47 after a 19-13 start. While disappointing, Skiles is the only Orlando head coach to break the 30-win mark in the last six seasons.

(Photo: Getty Images)
4. Chuck Daly (1997-99)
Seasons: 2
Record: 74-58 (.561)
Accomplishments: One playoff appearance
After leading the Magic to a .500 finish in his first season, the legendary and late Chuck Daly overachieved during the 1998-99 campaign, going 33-17 during the NBA Lockout-shortened season. Daly's Magic finished in a 3-way tie for the best record in the Eastern Conference, earning the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, only to be upset by the Philadelphia 76ers in four games.

3. Doc Rivers (1999-2004)
Seasons: 5
Record: 171-168 (.504)
Accomplishments: NBA Coach of the Year (1999-00), three playoff appearances
After earning NBA Coach of the Year honors in his first season by going 41-41 with Orlando's "Heart and Hustle" team, Rivers led the Magic to three straight playoff appearances from 2001-03. Unfortunately, Orlando never got out of the first round and blew a 3-1 lead to the Detroit Pistons in 2003. Rivers was fired 11 games into the following season after a 1-10 start.

2. Brian Hill (1993-97, 2005-07)
Seasons: 6
Record: 267-192 (.582)
Accomplishments: Eastern Conference champions (1994-95), two division titles, four playoff appearances, Eastern Conference Coach of the Month (November 2006)
Brian Hill resided over a lot of firsts in Orlando Magic history. Hill, who spent two tenures with the Magic, was the first to lead the team to the playoffs during the 1993-94 season. Unfortunately, the Magic were swept in the first round by the Indiana Pacers, but they reached the NBA Finals for the first time the following year, where they were swept by the Houston Rockets. Interestingly enough, the Magic's season ended by way of sweep in each of the team's four playoff appearances under Hill. The team's 60 wins under Hill during the 1995-96 season remain a team record.

1. Stan Van Gundy (2007-12)
Seasons: 5
Record: 259-135 (.657)
Accomplishments: Eastern Conference champions (2008-09), three division titles, five playoff appearances, Eastern Conference Coach of the Month (three times)
Stan Van Gundy holds the highest winning percent all-time for any Orlando Magic head coach. Van Gundy's Magic teams reached the playoffs in each of his five years, including the 2009 NBA Finals, where they were defeated in five games by the Los Angeles Lakers. Van Gundy is the only Magic head coach ever to win an NBA Finals game. Orlando has not returned to the playoffs since Van Gundy left following the 2011-12 season.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

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