ORLANDO — On Thursday, the Orlando Magic ushered in the Sean Sweeney era by introducing him as the team's next head coach.

For Sweeney, this will be a first, as he has spent all of his time in the NBA up to this point as an assistant, with his highest role coming last season with the San Antonio Spurs as the associate head coach on Mitch Johnson’s staff. Now, he has the keys to the Magic’s roster, and the franchise is banking on him to elevate it to new heights.

There is an inevitable adjustment that will have to be made by Sweeney, but after gaining experience as an assistant for different organizations since breaking into the league as a video coordinator in 2011, he is ready for the challenge.

"Well, I think the biggest difference is you have people who report to you much more directly from what I've already seen," Sweeney said. "But each day you put in time working on your craft, working on who you want to be as a coach. And for me, I want to teach and learn at the highest level I can, and I also want to compete at the highest level I can. 

"And being a head coach here is going to allow me to do that selfishly," he added. "That's what I'm looking for. But I think I've had enough time, I've been around enough people that I feel like this is the perfect opportunity for me."

Sweeney’s significant experience as an assistant will help shape his philosophy as a head coach, and he credited a certain former college basketball head coach and NBA assistant for playing a role in shaping him.

Well, being an assistant and being in a number of different places in the NBA has certainly helped me because I've seen a lot, I've seen different things," Sweeney said. "I've seen things that I like, I've seen things that I maybe wouldn't necessarily do, but it's helped me shape my values. 

"One of the people who's been very instrumental in that for me is Tim Grgurich," Sweeney added. Coach Gerg has shaped me as a coach. He's one of the people that taught me how to work, how much players matter. Jonathan Isaac saw him at Gerg's camp when we first met, so I think all those things in combination have gotten me to this point."

For Sweeney, it will be a process to find success in his new role, and the experience and mentorship he received along the way will be crucial.

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