The Orlando Magic are in need of a new head coach after parting ways with Jamahl Mosley after three consecutive first-round playoff exits.
Perhaps the Magic could look to bring in a guy who has recent experience when it comes to leading an Eastern Conference team deep into the playoffs.
Tom Thibodeau Named Potential Replacement for Jamahl Mosley with Orlando Magic
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 11: Tom Thibodeau head coach of the New York Knicks reacts during the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on April 11, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Former New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was recently named as a potential replacement for Mosley by Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. Thibodeau also previously served as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Thibodeau led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference finals just last year before being relieved of his duties by the organization over the offseason. He didn’t coach anywhere during the ’25-26 season, but he’s apparently itching to get back on the sideline and Orlando could provide him with an intriguing opportunity to do so.
“The former Bulls, Timberwolves and most-recently Knicks coach has been out of a job since New York fired him after last year’s trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, but is ‘very interested in a comeback,’ at age 68, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic,” Beede wrote.
“Thibodeau is believed to be interested in the Magic job, and he could help build upon the team’s defensive identity developed under Mosley. Thibodeau’s style to lean heavily on his starters, however, might not make sense for a roster that’s been plagued by injury as of late. He has a 578-420 overall record in 13 seasons as an NBA coach.”
Orlando will obviously have other options when it comes to a replacement for Mosley, but Thibodeau would certainly be one of the most experienced options, if that’s what they’re looking for.
What are the Magic Looking for in a New Head Coach?
When it comes to what the Magic are looking for in a new head coach, there isn’t one specific trait or quality they’re seeking. Instead, they’re simply looking for a guy who can move the team forward and beyond the first-round hump they’ve been stuck on.
“I don’t think we look for a particular trait or quality,” Magic president Jeff Weltman said of a new coach. “Coaches come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Someone who can look at our team that can help us move forward and understands where we are on our timeline, try to get past the growth stages of the rebuild. … I don’t have a box to say that we want the next coach to come out of this box.”
Other potential options for Orlando mentioned by Beede include Mike Budenholzer, Sam Cassell and Chris Quinn, among others.
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