The Long Island Nets are staying in-house, promoting Shawn Swords to head coach after Mfon Udofia's departure to Orlando. The longtime assistant now takes over one of the NBA G League's top developmental programs.
The Long Island Nets have officially found their next head coach.
The team announced on July 7 that Shawn Swords has been promoted to head coach, making him the eighth head coach in franchise history. He replaces Mfon Udofia, who departed the organization in June after accepting an assistant coaching position with Sean Sweeney's staff on the Orlando Magic.
Swords is no stranger to the organization. He joined Long Island as an assistant coach ahead of the 2022-23 season before being promoted to associate head coach in 2023. Over the last three seasons, he worked alongside Udofia during the most successful stretch in franchise history and played a key role in the development of many of Brooklyn's young players.
"Shawn has been a cornerstone of our staff since joining the organization, and we're thrilled to elevate him to head coach," Long Island Nets general manager Matt MacDonald said in a statement. "He has been an invaluable presence on our bench and a trusted voice in the development of our players. His experience, basketball acumen and dedication to the organization have prepared him to lead our team on Long Island, and we're excited to support Shawn and his staff as they guide the next generation of talent."
Rather than bringing in someone from outside the organization, the Nets opted for continuity. Swords has already spent four years within Brooklyn's developmental system and was heavily involved in preparing players for opportunities at the NBA level.
He also stepped in as acting head coach on multiple occasions while Udofia was away from the team, giving the organization a firsthand look at how he handled the responsibilities that now come with the full-time position.
Before arriving in Long Island, Swords spent 15 seasons as the head coach at Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada. He also represented Canada as an assistant coach with the country's junior national teams in 2010 and 2011 and later helped coach at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship.
His basketball résumé extends well beyond coaching. Before moving to the sidelines, Swords played professionally overseas for a decade in countries including France and Italy and represented Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He also enjoyed a standout collegiate career at Laurentian, where he earned All-Canadian honors and helped lead the program to a national semifinal appearance.
Swords now takes over a Long Island program that has become one of the NBA G League's most respected developmental affiliates. During his time on the coaching staff, the organization has helped numerous players earn NBA opportunities while continuing to develop Brooklyn's young talent.
His first season as head coach could be one of the most important yet. With several young Nets expected to spend time in the G League during the 2026-27 season, including two-way forward Tyler Bilodeau and other developing prospects, Long Island will once again play a major role in Brooklyn's player development pipeline.
Instead of starting over following Udofia's departure, the Nets are handing the reins to someone who already knows the organization inside and out. After four seasons on Long Island's bench, Swords now gets the opportunity to lead the franchise's next chapter.
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