Magic name Jacque Vaughn coach

[CameronCrazy06]

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Jacque Vaughn has been hired as the Orlando Magic's next head coach, the team said Saturday morning.

Vaughn, 37, who will replace the fired Stan Van Gundy, has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, with whom he won an NBA title in 2007 before retiring as a player.

The Magic have been searching for a coach since firing Van Gundy on May 21 -- the same day they parted ways with general manager Otis Smith. Orlando hired Rob Hennigan as its new general manager on June 20.

"We are beyond excited to name Jacque Vaughn as our head coach," Hennigan said in a news release. "As we navigated through our coaching search, we quickly saw that Jacque's spirit and leadership strengths made him the clear choice."

Vaughn's hire comes as the Magic have pulled back on trade talks concerning Dwight Howard despite the center's insistence he still wants to be dealt.

Howard reiterated as much to Hennigan during a meeting Wednesday in Los Angeles, telling the GM he would leave Orlando as a free agent after next season.

Vaughn will be introduced formally at a news conference Monday afternoon.

Vaughn becomes the 10th coach in team history. While with the Spurs he worked alongside Hennigan, who was working then in the team's basketball operations department.

"We are confident that his diligence, attention to detail and communication style will help establish the bedrock of our culture moving forward," Hennigan said in the statement. "His commitment and passion to building a sustainable program will help steer our organization for years to come."

Vaughn played the final three seasons of his 12-year career with the Spurs. He was point guard Tony Parker's backup when San Antonio won the NBA title in 2007.

The former Kansas Jayhawks star spent his first four seasons with the Utah Jazz, who took him with the 27th pick in the 1997 draft. He also played for Atlanta, Orlando and New Jersey, averaging 4.5 points and 2.5 assists in 776 career games. He retired in 2009.

Vaughn is No. 2 on the all-time assists list at Kansas with 804 over four years.

Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek and Suns player development coach Lindsey Hunter had also been candidates for the Magic's vacancy and had reportedly been expected to interview earlier this month.

Along with Hornacek and Hunter, the Magic were also said to be considering Warriors assistant Michael Malone and Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

 

[The Young One]

Jayhawk legend. I hope he succeeds.