Orlando Magic Fire Jacque Vaughn
Dec 30, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Amway Center. Detroit Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic 109-86. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The writing had been on the wall for Jacque Vaughn but it’s now official as the Orlando Magic has fired the third year coach.
Vaughn, 39, compiled a 58-158 record as the Magic head coach. The team is 15-37 this season and are riding a 10-game losing streak, the fourth such streak during Vaughn’s tenure.
"“Jacque has been a trusted friend and colleague,” Magic GM Rob Hennigan said in a statement. “We thank him immensely for his contributions and sacrifices in bringing our team to this point and we greatly appreciate his unwavering commitment to our organization. We have tremendous respect for Jacque and certainly wish him the best as he embarks on the next phase of his career.”"
James Borrego will take over as interim head coach for the Magic. Orlando also fired assistant coaches Wes Unseld Jr. and Brett Gunning and manager of advanced scouting Zach Guthrie.
Scott Skiles, who spent five years as a Magic player from 1989-94 has emerged as the lead candidate to be the team’s permanent head coach according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Mike Malone and Vinny Del Negro could be other options Wojnarowski opines.
The young core of talent in Orlando makes Magic an attractive coaching job, especially based on how few openings there could be this year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2015
Orlando went 20-62 in Vaughn’s rookie season, Orlando’s first year without Dwight Howard. Last season the magic went 23-59.
In Vaughn’s third year at the helm, the Magic were expected to take bigger steps as their young core of Nikola Vucevic, Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris and Elfrid Payton were expected to have Orlando trending towards a playoff spot. However, that has been far from the case.
Defence has been the team’s biggest struggle this season and more specifically recently, having surrendered 100 plus points in its last 14 games. Vaughn has also made questionable personnel decisions as well as unusual substitution packages.
Vaughn was hired on July 28, 2012. In May of last year, the Magic exercised their one-year option on Vaughn that would see him remain head coach through the 2015-16 season.