Jan 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Orlando Magic head coach
Jacque Vaughnreacts to a call in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Magic 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jacque Vaughn’s days as the Orlando Magic head coach could be numbered.
Reports Thursday suggest the Magic front office are not happy with the third year coach as Orlando continue to show little to no progress in the win column.
Schmitz’s Orlando Sentinel colleague Josh Robbins adds that the Magic “haven’t ruled out making an in-season coaching change.”
Vaughn was hired in 2012 to replace the fired Stan Van Gundy after the Dwight Howard saga. At the time of his hiring, it was common knowledge that the Magic were looking to rebuild.
In Vaughn’s first season, the Magic went 20-62 and followed that up with a 23-59 campaign.
This season, the Magic are 15-34 and sit last in the Southwest Division and hold the fifth worst record in the NBA.
With a young but talented group that includes Tobias Harris, Nikola Vucevic, Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton and others, it was expected the Magic would be more competitive this season and could possibly chase a playoff spot.
However, things haven’t turned out that way and as of right now the Magic are on pace for just 25 wins.
Vaughn’s coaching philosophy has come under question this season due to strange personnel decisions, especially regarding Maurice Harkless, as well as his odd substitution packages.
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.