Warning: mysqli_query(): (HY000/1030): Got error 28 from storage engine in /home/sportsun/public_html/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 1942

In a surprise move, Orlando Magic head coach Scott Skiles announced his resignation from the NBA club on May 12th. Skiles was with the club for less than a year as he was hired May 29th of 2015, but also played with Orlando for five seasons. The Magic said they’re immediately searching for a new head coach for the non-playoff team after Skiles led the squad to a losing record of 35-47 this campaign. The coach got off to a good start this season as the Magic went 19-13, but missed the playoffs after losing 34 of their last 50 contests.

But even though the team missed the postseason, they recorded 10 more wins than the previous campaign. The Magic played well early in 2015/16 and Skiles was named the Eastern Conference’s coach of the month for December when the team was leading the conference at 10-5. The team eventually placed 11th in the conference and missed the playoffs by nine games. Skiles released a press statement announcing his decision which said he had thought long and hard and concluded that he isn’t the right coach for the club. He went on to add that the Magic is a world-class franchise which hires world-class employees and he wished them the best.

Rob Hennigan, the general manager of the Magic, told the press that the club went through a frustrating season, but it reluctantly accepted its head coach’s resignation. He thanked Skiles for his efforts and said he’ll start looking for the franchise’s fourth coach in four years as soon as possible. Stan Van Gundy held the position until he was let go 2012. He was replaced with Jacque Vaughn and then James Borrego until Skiles was hired to run the team in 2015/16. Skiles had some coaching experience when the Magic hired him as he had worked for Milwaukee, Chicago and Phoenix. His career record now stands at 478-480.

In his press release, Skiles apologized if his decision will negatively affect anybody else in the Magic organization. However, the Orlando Sentinel newspaper speculated that Skiles and Hennigan had a fractured relationship and didn’t always see eye to eye on player decisions and the way the club was run. Both the GM and coach felt the Magic would be good enough to reach the postseason this year, and were disappointed in the outcome, especially with the team collapsing after such a promising start. The timing of Skiles’ resignation is definitely frustrating for the Magic since coaches Luke Walton, Tom Thibodeau, Dave Joerger and Scott Brooks have been hired already.

However, Hennigan still has a few options such as Mike D’Antoni, Mark Jackson and Mike Woodson. In fact, Woodson and Jackson were both interviewed by the Magic last year before the club hired Skiles. At this moment though, Frank Vogel, the ex-coach of the Indiana Pacers, could be the most-logical candidate. Vogel has prior experience with young teams and leading them to the playoffs through solid defensive play. The Magic will have to act quickly though since the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks are also reportedly interested in Vogel. With Skiles handing in his resignation, it means 11 NBA teams no longer have the coach they had at the start of the 2015/15 season.