ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic hired Sean Sweeney as their new head coach in May 2026 after firing Jamahl Mosley. Mosley was dismissed following the team’s collapse in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs, where they lost a 3-1 series lead to the Detroit Pistons.

Sweeney will remain with the San Antonio Spurs to complete the remainder of the 2026 NBA postseason before officially taking over as head coach in Orlando. His hiring concluded a search that included finalists Billy Donovan and Jeff Van Gundy. Donovan met with Magic executives to discuss the position but was not offered the job.

Sweeney brings more than a decade of NBA coaching experience to the role. He joined the league in 2011 as a video coordinator for the New Jersey Nets and later served as an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Dallas Mavericks under Jason Kidd before joining the Spurs. In 2025, he was also a finalist for the Phoenix Suns head coaching vacancy, which ultimately went to Jordan Ott.

His first priority with the Magic will be addressing the team’s defensive lapses. During the 2025-26 season, Orlando ranked 11th in the NBA in defensive rating and 13th in opponents’ points per game. The team’s defensive performance drew attention after their playoff exit despite having a core of high-salaried players.

For the 2026-27 season, the Magic’s projected payroll exceeds $200 million, with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Bane, and Jalen Suggs each earning more than $32 million.