NBA Rumors: Clippers' Jay Larranaga to Interview for Hornets Head Coaching Job

As Steve Clifford prepares to step down as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets when their season ends, they are lining up candidates to interview for the job.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Jay Larranaga is going to interview with the Hornets.

Clifford announced on April 3 he will step down in his current position and become an advisor in the front office next season.

The 62-year-old Clifford is in his second stint as Hornets head coach. He was hired in June 2022 after previously coaching the club for five seasons from 2013 to '18.

Charlotte has a 46-114 record under Clifford since the start of 2022-23 with four games remaining this season.

Larranaga is in his third season as an assistant coach on Tyronn Lue's staff. Prior to being hired by the Clippers, he spent nine seasons on as an assistant with the Boston Celtics for Doc Rivers' final year (2012-13) and all eight seasons of Brad Stevens' tenure as head coach.

The 49-year-old Larranaga has had multiple head-coaching interviews over the years. He spoke with the Hornets, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks in 2018.

Charlotte has missed the playoffs in eight consecutive years, including this season. It's the longest active postseason drought for any NBA team.

Larranaga has previous head-coaching experience with the Erie Bayhawks of the G League for two seasons from 2010 to '12. He was also the head coach of Ireland's national team from 2008 to '10.

The Bayhawks went 60-40 with back-to-back playoff appearances under Larranaga.