Steve Clifford

Last updated
Steve Clifford
Steve Clifford in 2010.jpg
Clifford in 2010
Charlotte Hornets
PositionHead coach
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1961-09-17) September 17, 1961 (age 62)
Island Falls, Maine, U.S.
Career information
High school North Country Union
(Newport, Vermont)
College Maine–Farmington (1979–1983)
Coaching career1983–present
Career history
As coach:
1983–1985 Woodland HS
1985–1989 Saint Anselm (assistant)
1989–1990 Fairfield (assistant)
1990–1994 Boston University (assistant)
1994–1995 Siena (assistant)
1995–1999 Adelphi
1999–2000 East Carolina (assistant)
20012003 New York Knicks (assistant)
20032007 Houston Rockets (assistant)
20072012 Orlando Magic (assistant)
2012–2013 Los Angeles Lakers (assistant)
20132018 Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets
20182021 Orlando Magic
2022–presentCharlotte Hornets
Career highlights and awards
As head coach:

As assistant coach:

Steven Gerald Clifford (born September 17, 1961) is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously served as the head coach of the Orlando Magic.

Contents

Early life

Born in Island Falls, Maine, Clifford grew up in Mattawamkeag, Maine, until the third grade, when he moved to Vermont. [1] He played varsity basketball under Gerald Clifford, his father and head coach at North Country Union High School in Newport, Vermont. [2] [3]

Clifford attended the University of Maine at Farmington, where he played college basketball for four years. In his final two seasons, he was team captain and was named Best Defensive Player. He graduated with a degree in special education. [4]

Coaching career

After graduating from college, Clifford became a teacher at Woodland High School in Maine. He also gained his first coaching experience at the school, serving as their head coach for two seasons while leading them to two tournaments. [2] [5] He then served as an assistant coach at St. Anselm College, Fairfield University, Boston University and Siena College. In 1995, he assumed the head coaching duties at Adelphi University and coached for four seasons leading his team to four appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament, an 86–36 (.705) record and four consecutive 20-win seasons. He was the first coach in the school's history with back-to-back 20-plus win seasons. [5]

Clifford became an NBA assistant coach with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets under Jeff Van Gundy and quickly developed a reputation as a defensive expert. He then was an assistant for Stan Van Gundy with the Orlando Magic. [2] He considers both the Van Gundy brothers as mentors. [6] He reached the NBA Playoffs in each of his five seasons with Orlando, appearing in the NBA Finals in 2009.

Clifford then joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012–13 as an assistant. [7]

Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets

On May 29, 2013, Clifford was hired by the Charlotte Bobcats to be their head coach. [8]

Clifford implemented a defensive mentality in Charlotte during his first year as head coach turning the Charlotte Bobcats into a top five defensive team when in the years prior to his tenure they ranked near the bottom of the NBA in that category. He led the Bobcats to the 2014 NBA playoffs in his first year as head coach, during which he coached the Bobcats to a 43–39 record. The two years prior to him joining the Bobcats only had a combined total of 28 wins. He was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for April 2014 after he led the Bobcats to a 7–1 record leading to the playoffs. He finished fourth in Coach of the Year voting in his first year. On December 6, 2017, it was announced that Clifford would not coach indefinitely to deal with his health issue. [9] [10] On January 11, 2018, the Hornets announced that Clifford was medically cleared to return to coaching [11] after a 21-game absence after dealing with sleep deprivation. [12] After the 2017–18 regular season, he was fired as head coach on April 13, 2018, after five seasons coaching the team to a 196–214 record total. [13]

Orlando Magic

On May 30, 2018, Clifford was named the head coach of the Orlando Magic. [14]

The Magic started the 2018–19 season by splitting their first 24 games before falling 11 games under .500 after a 126–117 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. [15] Despite the dismal start, Clifford led the Magic on a dramatic turnaround. On April 7, 2019, Orlando defeated the Boston Celtics 116–108 to clinch their first playoff berth since the 2011–12 season. [16] The win also clinched the Magic's first Southeast Division title since the 2009–10 season. This was the Magic's first playoff appearance since trading Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012, [17] ending the longest playoff drought in franchise history. [18]

On June 5, 2021, Clifford and the Magic decided to part ways. [19]

Charlotte Hornets (second stint)

After the 2021–22 NBA season concluded, the Hornets re-hired Clifford as their head coach on June 24, 2022. [20]

Head coaching record

College

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Adelphi Panthers (New York Collegiate Athletic Conference)(1995–1999)
1995–96Adelphi 23–717–52nd NCAA D-II First Round
1996–97Adelphi 21–917–53rd NCAA D-II First Round
1997–98Adelphi 22–818–43rd NCAA D-II First Round
1998–99Adelphi 20–1214–83rd NCAA D-II Sweet 16
Adelphi University:86–36 (.705)66–22
Total:86–36 (.705)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

NBA

Legend
Regular seasonGGames coachedWGames wonLGames lostW–L %Win–loss %
PlayoffsPGPlayoff gamesPWPlayoff winsPLPlayoff lossesPW–L %Playoff win–loss %
TeamYearGWLW–L%FinishPGPWPLPW–L%Result
Charlotte 2013–14 824339.5243rd in Southeast 404.000Lost in First round
Charlotte 2014–15 823349.4024th in SoutheastMissed playoffs
Charlotte 2015–16 824834.5853rd in Southeast734.429Lost in First round
Charlotte 2016–17 823646.4394th in SoutheastMissed playoffs
Charlotte 2017–18 823646.4393rd in SoutheastMissed playoffs
Orlando 2018–19 824240.5121st in Southeast514.200Lost in First round
Orlando 2019–20 733340.4522nd in Southeast514.200Lost in First round
Orlando 2020–21 722151.2925th in SoutheastMissed playoffs
Charlotte 2022–23 822755.3295th in SoutheastMissed playoffs
Career719319400.44421516.238

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlando Magic</span> National Basketball Association team in Orlando, Florida

The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The franchise was established in 1989 as an expansion franchise, and such notable NBA stars as Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis and Nikola Vučević have played for the club throughout its history. As of 2021, the franchise has played in the NBA playoffs 16 times in 32 seasons, and twice went to the NBA Finals, in 1995 and 2009, losing to the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. Orlando has been the second most successful of the four expansion teams brought into the league in 1988 and 1989 in terms of winning percentage and playoff success, after the Miami Heat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte Hornets</span> NBA team in Charlotte, North Carolina

The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at the Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwight Howard</span> American basketball player (born 1985)

Dwight David Howard II is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League. He began his career in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he was an NBA champion, eight-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA Team honoree, five-time All-Defensive Team member, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emeka Okafor</span> American basketball player (born 1982)

Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi "Emeka" Okafor is an American former professional basketball player. Okafor attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas and the University of Connecticut, where in 2004 he won a national championship. In his first season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2004–05, Okafor was named Rookie of the Year. He was traded to the New Orleans Hornets in 2009 and was then dealt to the Washington Wizards in 2012. However, a herniated disc in his neck caused Okafor to miss four consecutive seasons from 2013 to 2017 before being medically cleared to play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jameer Nelson</span> American basketball player

Jameer Lamar Nelson Sr. is an American former professional basketball player who serves as assistant general manager for the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Saint Joseph's Hawks, where he was named national college player of the year in 2004. Drafted 20th overall in the 2004 NBA draft, Nelson spent the first ten years of his NBA career with the Orlando Magic. In 2009, he was named an All-Star and made an appearance in the NBA Finals with the Magic. He has also played for the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans and Detroit Pistons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stan Van Gundy</span> American basketball coach and analyst

Stanley Alan Van Gundy is an American former basketball coach who is a television commentator for the NBA on TNT and College Basketball on CBS. Prior to TNT, Van Gundy was most recently the head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA. He also served as the head coach and president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons from 2014 to 2018. From 2003 to 2005, he was the head coach of the Miami Heat but resigned in 2005 mid-season, returning the job over to Pat Riley. Van Gundy then coached the Orlando Magic for five seasons from 2007 to 2012, leading them to the 2009 NBA Finals. He is the older brother of former New York Knicks and Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Beyer</span> American basketball coach

Robert C. Beyer is an American professional basketball coach who serves as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Silas</span> American basketball coach (born 1973)

Stephen Silas is an American assistant basketball coach for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the son of NBA star player and head coach Paul Silas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Thibodeau</span> American basketball coach

Thomas Joseph Thibodeau Jr., nicknamed "Thibs", is an American basketball coach who is the head coach for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He served as an assistant coach for the United States men's national basketball team from 2013 to 2016, and helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games.

The 2004–05 NBA season was the first season for the Charlotte Bobcats in the National Basketball Association. This season marked the return of NBA basketball to Charlotte after a two-year hiatus. The original Hornets had moved to New Orleans after the 2001–02 season to become the New Orleans Hornets, now the New Orleans Pelicans. The Bobcats had the second overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft, which they used to select Emeka Okafor out of the University of Connecticut. The team hired Bernie Bickerstaff as head coach during the offseason, and added veteran players like Gerald Wallace, Primož Brezec, Brevin Knight, Jason Hart, Jason Kapono, Melvin Ely and Steve Smith to their roster. The Bobcats played their first game at the Charlotte Coliseum on November 4, which was a 103–96 loss to the Washington Wizards. They would win their first game defeating the Orlando Magic 111–100 at home on November 6. However, the expansion team struggled losing ten straight games in January and March, finishing fourth in the Southeast Division with an 18–64 record. Okafor averaged 15.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks per game and was named Rookie of The Year, and selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

The 2009–10 Orlando Magic season was the 21st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Magic were coming off of an NBA Finals defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. It was also the Magic's last season having the Amway Arena as their home arena. The Magic would match their record from last season. The Magic had the fourth best team offensive rating in the NBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bismack Biyombo</span> Congolese basketball player (born 1992)

Bismack Biyombo Sumba is a Congolese professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. He began his career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) where he was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings and subsequently traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. Biyombo has also played for the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and the Phoenix Suns.

The 2012–13 NBA season was the 67th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 30, 2012, when the 2011–12 NBA champions Miami Heat started the season by hosting the Boston Celtics. The 2013 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 17, 2013, at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The regular season ended on April 17, 2013, and the playoffs began on April 20, 2013 and ended on June 20, 2013, with the Miami Heat defeating the San Antonio Spurs in seven games to win the 2013 NBA Finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Daniels</span> American basketball player

Troy Daniels is an American professional basketball player who last played for Olimpia Milano of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where in 2013, he set the Atlantic 10 Conference record for made three-point field goals in a single game.

The history of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Hornets dates to 1985 when founder George Shinn first thought of bringing professional basketball to Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets commenced play as an expansion team in 1988. After fourteen seasons under its original ownership, the franchise suspended operations in 2002 when Shinn transferred the basketball organization under his control to a new franchise in New Orleans. The Charlotte franchise was subsequently acquired, reactivated and renamed the Bobcats by Robert L. Johnson. After restocking its roster through their second expansion draft, the team resumed play in 2004. Johnson sold controlling interest to Hall of Fame legend and North Carolinian native Michael Jordan in 2010. Jordan, who restored the club's original name in 2014, sold the team to group led by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin in 2023. The franchise has reached the postseason twelve times and made ten playoff appearances, although as of 2023 they are the oldest club in all of North American major professional sports to have never won a division championship.

The 2017–18 Charlotte Hornets season was the 28th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the fifth season under head coach Steve Clifford. It was also the last season where Rich Cho is the general manager for the Hornets and the last where Steve Clifford is the head coach, as well as Mitch Kupchak's first year with Charlotte.

The 2018–19 NBA season was the 73rd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 16, 2018, and ended on April 10, 2019. The 2019 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 17, 2019, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The playoffs began on April 13, 2019 and ended on June 13 with the Toronto Raptors defeating the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals, becoming NBA champions for the first time in franchise history, the first team based outside the United States to win the NBA title, and the first team in NBA history to win a championship without a single lottery pick on the roster. This season would mark the first time since 2010 in which LeBron James did not make a Finals appearance. This would also be the final season for Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Dwyane Wade. This was the last NBA season to play in a regular 82-game season from mid-October to mid-April until the 2021–22 NBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic that took place during the following two seasons.

The 2018–19 Charlotte Hornets season was the 29th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On April 13, 2018, the Hornets fired head coach Steve Clifford after the team missed the playoffs. On May 10, 2018, the Hornets hired James Borrego as head coach. This season is notable because the team is celebrating their 30th year in the NBA, also announcing that Muggsy Bogues and Dell Curry would be ambassadors for the team. With a Detroit Pistons win on April 10, against the New York Knicks, the Hornets were eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight season.

References

  1. Clark, Ernie (June 12, 2013). "Maine native Clifford works way into NBA's head coaching fraternity at Charlotte". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Maine native Steve Clifford named Bobcats head coach". Bangor Daily News . May 27, 2013. Archived from the original on May 28, 2013.
  3. Reed, Steve (May 28, 2013). "Charlotte Bobcats reportedly hire coach with Vermont ties". Burlington Free Press . Archived from the original on May 28, 2013.
  4. "Steve Clifford". NBA.com . Archived from the original on May 10, 2013.
  5. 1 2 DiFillipo, Matt (November 25, 2011). "BASKETBALL: Clifford still learning". Kennebec Journal . Archived from the original on January 8, 2014.
  6. Media, Mark (August 15, 2012). "Lakers assistant coach candidate profile: Steve Clifford". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on June 10, 2013.
  7. "Lakers Announce Coaching Staff Changes". NBA.com. September 7, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  8. "Charlotte Bobcats Name Steve Clifford Head Coach". NBA.com. May 29, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  9. "Steve Clifford Status Update". NBA.com. December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  10. "Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford out indefinitely with 'health issue'". NBA.com. December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  11. "Steve Clifford Status Update". NBA.com. January 11, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  12. "Hornets coach Clifford back to work after sleep deprivation". USA TODAY. January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  13. "Hornets Relieve Clifford of Head Coaching Duties". NBA.com. April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  14. "Orlando Magic Name Steve Clifford Head Coach". NBA.com. May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  15. Parry, Roy (January 29, 2019). "Paul George, Dennis Schroder shine as Magic fall 126-117 to Thunder". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  16. Parry, Roy (April 7, 2019). "Orlando Magic clinch playoff spot for first time in seven seasons with win over Boston Celtics". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  17. Bontemps, Tim (April 8, 2019). "Wins by Nets, Magic leave three teams on the Eastern Conference bubble". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  18. "NBA: Magic end lengthy play-off drought with win at Boston; Warriors earn West top seed by routing Clippers". The Straits Times. April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019. With the win, Orlando ended the longest play-off drought in franchise history.
  19. "Orlando Magic, Steve Clifford Mutually Agree to Part Ways". NBA.com. June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  20. "Charlotte Hornets Name Steve Clifford Head Coach". NBA.com. June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.