Charlotte Hornets Head Coach Steve Clifford introduced immediately that he’ll step down from his function as head coach when his contract expires on the conclusion of the 2023-24 common season. Clifford will function head coach for the group’s seven remaining video games and is predicted to maneuver into an advisory function with the entrance workplace subsequent season. The Hornets will start their seek for a brand new head coach instantly.
“That is the suitable time for me to step down,” mentioned Clifford. “I imagine that is greatest for me and the group. I’m enthusiastic about the way forward for the Hornets – our younger core of gamers, Jeff’s management of our basketball operations and Rick and Gabe’s imaginative and prescient for the group. I need to thank all of the Hornets gamers and workers for his or her work the previous two seasons and our Hornets followers for his or her continued assist of our group.”
“Courting again to our time collectively in Brooklyn, I’ve an incredible quantity of appreciation for Coach Cliff, and I perceive his choice to step down,” mentioned Hornets Govt Vice President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson. “His basketball data, educating capability and work ethic are well-respected all through the NBA. He has needed to endure some very tough circumstances the previous two years, and but our gamers have continued to compete, work arduous and develop. On behalf of your complete Hornets group, I need to thank Steve for all his efforts, and we look ahead to having him stay part of the group.
“Whereas Steve will proceed to teach the group for the rest of the season, we are going to instantly start the search course of for our subsequent head coach. We are going to look to rent somebody that shares our values and imaginative and prescient in creating our younger core and making a tradition and id based mostly on teamwork, accountability and competitiveness. We are going to conduct a radical search course of to pick the very best head coach for the Hornets transferring ahead.”
Clifford was employed on June 24, 2022, marking his second stint with the Hornets. He beforehand served as head coach from 2013 – 2018, main the group to 2 playoff appearances, and his 241 victories as Charlotte’s head coach are essentially the most in franchise historical past. Clifford additionally served as head coach of the Orlando Magic for 3 seasons (2018-21), guiding the group to 2 playoff berths. He grew to become the seventy fifth coach in NBA historical past to amass 300 wins. In whole, Clifford has greater than 25 years of NBA expertise as a scout, assistant coach and head coach.
