San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Sean Sweeney is set to depart the franchise at the conclusion of the playoffs to become the next head coach of the Orlando Magic.
The news broke via ESPN’s Shams Charania ahead of Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, a result that will impact the Spurs’ future regardless of Saturday’s outcome.
Sweeney, 41, will be a first-time head coach after beating out two experienced finalists for the Orlando position, Jeff Van Gundy and Billy Donovan.
Donovan had famously come close to coaching the Magic nearly 20 years ago, making his omission this time around particularly notable given the history.
Sweeney’s impact at San Antonio has been significant, with his defensive tactics credited with helping Victor Wembanyama earn Defensive Player of the Year honours this season.
The Spurs improved dramatically under Sweeney’s influence, jumping from just 32 wins in 2024-25 to 62 victories during the regular season.
Sweeney will remain on the Spurs bench through the remainder of their postseason run, including Game 7 on Saturday night for a berth in the NBA Finals.
The Magic enter this coaching search after a difficult finish to their own playoffs, having blown a 3-1 series lead before being eliminated by the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Orlando’s collapse in that first-round series led to the firing of former head coach Jamahl Mosley on May 4, opening the door for a fresh start with new leadership.
Prior to joining the Spurs ahead of the 2025-26 season, Sweeney had served under Jason Kidd with the Dallas Mavericks from 2021 to 2025, contributing to a 2024 NBA Finals run.
His coaching career began as a video coordinator with the then-New Jersey Nets in 2011, before he was promoted to assistant coach and later moved to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2014.
Sweeney then spent the 2018-21 period with the Pistons before making the move to Dallas, building a lengthy and well-regarded résumé as an assistant across the league.
Despite his lack of head-coaching experience, Sweeney is widely respected within the NBA, and most within the league had long expected him to earn a top job eventually.
The post Sean Sweeney Set To Leave San Antonio Spurs For Orlando Magic Head-Coaching Role appeared first on Gooner Daily.
