We told you it was coming, now it is official:
Scott Skiles is the next head coach of the Orlando Magic.
“Scott (Skiles) clearly distinguished himself as a tremendous fit,” Magic GM Rob Hennigan said in a released statement. “Our young roster will benefit greatly from Scott’s extensive head coaching experience and commitment to teaching smart, physical, unselfish basketball. We believe in Scott’s ability to establish a culture of winning habits and accountability that will help guide our team in a positive direction.”
“As we began our search, our internal discussions centered on finding a head coach with a solid resume of NBA head coaching experience, great leadership qualities, a motivating communication style, and someone with a strong strategic acumen,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “We feel Scott (Skiles) brings a balanced approach in all those qualities and we look forward, with great confidence, to him leading our young men in helping us reach our collective goal of sustainable success.”
Skiles, a former Magic player from 1989 through 1994, who had a 30-assist game with the team, has spent all or part of 13 seasons as a head coach, compiling a record of443-433 (.506) with Phoenix, Chicago, and Milwaukee.
Skiles the coach is a hard-driving, defense first coach who will improve the Magic on that end of the floor. Maybe enough to have them in the playoff mix in the Eastern Conference.
However, this is a young team — Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton, Nikola Vucevic, plus this this year’s No. 5 pick — and Skiles is not known as a player development guy. Nor a guy with creative lineups.
But he’s getting the chance in Orlando.