ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic announced on Monday that head coach Stan Van Gundy has been relieved of his duties as head coach, along with general manager Otis Smith "parting ways with the organization."
"I want to thank Stan and Otis for all they have done for our organization on and off the floor," said CEO Alex Martins at a news conference on Monday.
Van Gundy was relieved of duty after the organization wasn't happy "at the direction in the past few years," according to Martins.
"Stan is one of the best strategic coaches in the NBA but the job requires more than that," Martins said at a news conference. "Strategically we may not be able to find anybody better but there's another part of the job ... how the coach relates to his players and other coaches and others in the organization."
Martins dismissed the idea of Van Gundy's public battle with Dwight Howard having an effect on Van Gundy's firing.
"Yes their relationship was a challenge but Dwight Howard never asked me to fire Stan Van Gundy," Martins said, admitting to having conversations with Howard about his relationship with Van Gundy. But said Howard never wanted to be a part of the decision to let the head coach go.
"Dwight did not want to be part of this decision, he did not want to make this decision and he never asked me to make this decision," Martins said.
It appears Magic's performance in the recent years was a main factor in Van Gundy's firing.
"Getting knocked out in the first round the past two years is unacceptable," Martins said.
Van Gundy spoke to Local 6 Sports Director David Pingalore, saying, "I'm proud of what we all accomplished here and I look forward to whatever comes next."
Smith and the Magic organization have "mutually agreed to part ways," according to a release. Martins said his personal relationship with Smith, spanning almost 23 years made it "the most difficult day of my career."
"As hard as it is anyone to be relieved of their duties it's incredibly hard to relieve someone of their duties," Martins said. "We wish them well, I did have great personal relationships with them."
Martins said the search for a new general manager will begin immediately and a new GM will be chosen by the NBA draft June 28. Martins only would say the team is looking for someone with "championship experience," for the GM and the new head coach.
Martins said that the Magic organization will honor the contract of both Van Gundy and Smith, along with the assistant coaches-who have been offered to stay on short term.
"Ultimately as we make these decisions in a perfect world we'd like to find somebody with championship experience," said Martins. "We're going to scour the league and hopefully find someone who has some level of championship experience."
As far as Howard's stay on the Magic, Martins said Howard's one year extension contract is being discussed on both sides, but would not comment further.
Van Gundy was named head coach on June 7, 2007, becoming the ninth head coach in franchise history.
Van Gundy has a career NBA head coaching regular season record of 371-208 (.641), including 259-135 (.657) in five seasons in Orlando. He led Orlando to five postseason berths, three Southeast Division titles and the 2009 Eastern Conference crown.
Last season, 2010-‘11, Orlando finished 52-30 and made its fourth straight trip to the playoffs. It was Orlando's fourth straight 50-win season and Van Gundy became the second-fastest active coach to 300 career wins and seventh-fastest all-time. He also coached his 500th career game and had the sixth-most wins in NBA history through 500 contests.
The Magic ended the 2011-2012 season with a record of 37-29 (.561), good for sixth-best in the Eastern Conference. The Magic advanced to the postseason for the sixth consecutive time, which is the longest active streak in the Eastern Conference.
Smith was promoted to president of basketball operations in 2010 and named general manager on May 3, 2006. Smith was a member of the inaugural 1989-‘90 Magic squad and spent three seasons playing in Orlando (1989-‘92).
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