The Orlando Magic have named Sean Sweeney as their next head coach.
The Orlando Magic on Monday announced the hiring of Sean Sweeney to be the organization’s 16th head coach in franchise history.
News of the Magic finalizing a deal with Sweeney, who is currently gearing up for the NBA Finals as the associate head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, broke on Friday via ESPN NBA insider, Shams Charania. However, the Magic did not comment on Friday or over the weekend. Meanwhile, Sweeney helped lead the Spurs to a Game 7 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday to reach the NBA Finals.
On Monday morning, the organization issued a press release confirming Sweeney’s hiring, which included an announcement from President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman.
"We're excited to welcome Sean (Sweeney) to the Orlando Magic family," Weltman said. "Sean brings a tremendous work ethic and a high degree of intensity that set the tone for everything he does.
"Sean's attention to detail and his ability to communicate and teach the game clearly stands out," Weltman added. "He's grounded in competitiveness and accountability, while also embracing a modern, creative approach to coaching."
Sweeney’s hiring concludes a coaching search that lasted nearly four weeks after Weltman made the decision to fire Jamahl Mosley following the Magic’s elimination from the NBA Playoffs after squandering a 3-1 first-round series lead against the Detroit Pistons. Mosley’s exit concluded a five-year tenure, and Weltman made it clear that it was not the team’s loss in the playoffs specifically that led to his firing.
Now, the Magic introduce Sweeney, who is a first-time head coach who hangs his hat primarily on the defensive end; a situation that was similar to Mosley's when he was hired in 2021.
In his role with the Spurs on Mitch Johnson’s staff, Sweeney was in charge of the defense, and he helped lead San Antonio to the third-best defensive rating in the league during the regular season (110.4), the second-best rating during the playoffs (104.4) and its first Finals appearance since the 2013-14 season.
Sweeney is also known for his role in developing and coaching some of the league’s top stars while serving as an assistant on various staffs. During his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, Sweeney helped develop a young Giannis Antetokounmpo. While working as an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks, he played a role in coaching Luka Doncic.
Now, he is coaching Victor Wembanyama, who is still only 22 years old, to his first NBA Finals appearance. In Orlando, Sweeney will inherit a young core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs who are ready to take the next step.
The Magic have gone to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, but have been unable to break out of the first round. Two of their appearances have featured Game 7 battles, but ultimately led to losses.
After acquiring Bane, Orlando went into the 2025-26 season with high expectations, especially in a fractured Eastern Conference that saw stars like Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum suffer torn Achilles tendons in the preceding weeks. However, it was a rocky season under Mosley that led to an eighth place finish and a battle through the Play-In Tournament just to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Mosley set the foundation for a strong culture built on defense that elevated the Magic to consistent postseason participation. Now, it is on Sweeney to push the team to even greater heights.
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