Jacque Vaughn Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation Surrounding Magic Head Coach
Orlando Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn has reportedly been fired.
Continue for updates.
Vaughn Reportedly Fired
Thursday, Feb. 5
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Vaughn has been fired.
Scott Skiles, Mark Jackson Potential Vaughn Replacements
Friday, Jan. 30
ESPN's Chris Broussard reported Scott Skiles and Mark Jackson could be two potential candidates in Orlando if the team parts ways with Vaughn.
Vaughn's Future Reportedly in Doubt with Magic
Thursday, Jan. 29
The Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins and Brian K. Schmitz provided the details:
"Safe to say Jacque Vaughn is in trouble. Magic management "not happy at all." Source to Sentinel: "We won't settle for this."
— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) January 30, 2015"
"Orlando Sentinel: Magic brass have been told by one Western Conference coach that Magic have better talent than 15-34 record shows.
— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) January 30, 2015"
Adrian Wojnarowski added some more details:
""It isn't a matter of 'if,' anymore, but 'when,'" a source close to the decision-making process told Yahoo Sports about Vaughn’s fading job security.
Vaughn will not be replaced before Orlando meets Dallas on Saturday at Amway Arena, but his job security beyond the start of the two-game trip to Oklahoma City and San Antonio beginning on Monday is uncertain, league sources told Yahoo Sports. ...
... In fact, the lack of a natural candidate to promote to interim head coach from a young, inexperienced staff of assistants has played a part in Orlando management's hesitancy to have already made a change, sources told Yahoo Sports.
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Vaughn, in his first stint as a head coach, has compiled a 58-154 (.274) record. The first two losing seasons were somewhat excusable, as the Magic were in a clear rebuilding phase, but with the amount of talent on the team, it's concerning that very little progression is being made.
Nikola Vucevic, who has developed into one of the best offensive centers in the league, easily could have been an All-Star selection. Tobias Harris is a talented scorer on the wing. Victor Oladipo is a promising two-way player. Elfrid Payton has shown glimpses as a rookie. Channing Frye is a solid veteran role player.
The Magic are extremely young, but as Schmitz noted, they should at least be better than 15-34, especially in the weak Eastern Conference.
Vaughn's contract, which was extended before the start of the year, runs through the end of the 2015-16 season, so that may give him some breathing room. But what could hurt him is Orlando, still only 5.5 games out in the East, may have an outside shot at the playoffs.
If Rob Hennigan believes firing Vaughn will give the team the spark needed to turn the season around, it doesn't sound like he'll hesitate to make the midseason move.
