Steve Clifford

{{Distinguish|text=Australian footballer Stephen Clifford or skier Steven Clifford}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Steve Clifford

| image = Steve Clifford in 2020.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Clifford in 2020

| team = Charlotte Hornets

| position = Front office advisor/executive

| league = NBA

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|9|17}}

| birth_place = Island Falls, Maine, U.S.

| high_school = North Country Union
(Newport, Vermont)

| college = Maine–Farmington (1979–1983)

| coach_start = 1983

| coach_end = 2024

| cyears1 = 1983–1985

| cteam1 = Woodland HS

| cyears2 = 1985–1989

| cteam2 = Saint Anselm (assistant)

| cyears3 = 1989–1990

| cteam3 = Fairfield (assistant)

| cyears4 = 1990–1994

| cteam4 = Boston University (assistant)

| cyears5 = 1994–1995

| cteam5 = Siena (assistant)

| cyears6 = 1995–1999

| cteam6 = Adelphi

| cyears7 = 1999–2000

| cteam7 = East Carolina (assistant)

| cyears8 = {{nbay|2001|start}}–{{nbay|2002|end}}

| cteam8 = New York Knicks (assistant)

| cyears9 = {{nbay|2003|start}}–{{nbay|2006|end}}

| cteam9 = Houston Rockets (assistant)

| cyears10 = {{nbay|2007|start}}–{{nbay|2011|end}}

| cteam10 = Orlando Magic (assistant)

| cyears11 = {{nbay|2012|full=y}}

| cteam11 = Los Angeles Lakers (assistant)

| cyears12 = {{nbay|2013|start}}–{{nbay|2017|end}}

| cteam12 = Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets

| cyears13 = {{nbay|2018|start}}–{{nbay|2020|end}}

| cteam13 = Orlando Magic

| cyears14 = {{nbay|2022|start}}–{{nbay|2023|end}}

| cteam14 = Charlotte Hornets

| highlights = As head coach:

2× East Coast Conference tournament champion (1996, 1999)

As assistant coach:

America East tournament champion (1990)

}}

Steven Gerald Clifford (born September 17, 1961) is an American professional basketball coach and executive who serves as a front office advisor for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously served as the head coach of the Hornets and the Orlando Magic.

Early life

Born in Island Falls, Maine, Clifford grew up in Mattawamkeag, Maine, until the third grade, when he moved to Vermont.{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Ernie|title=Maine native Clifford works way into NBA's head coaching fraternity at Charlotte|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2013/06/12/sports/basketball/maine-native-clifford-works-way-into-nbas-head-coaching-fraternity-at-charlotte/|website=Bangor Daily News|access-date=June 1, 2015|date=June 12, 2013}} He played varsity basketball under Gerald Clifford, his father and head coach at North Country Union High School in Newport, Vermont.{{cite news|title=Maine native Steve Clifford named Bobcats head coach|date=May 27, 2013|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2013/05/27/news/state/island-falls-native-steve-clifford-named-bobcats-head-coach/|archive-date=May 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528024648/http://bangordailynews.com/2013/05/27/news/state/island-falls-native-steve-clifford-named-bobcats-head-coach/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Reed|first=Steve|title=Charlotte Bobcats reportedly hire coach with Vermont ties|date=May 28, 2013|newspaper=Burlington Free Press|url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/viewart/20130528/SPORTS/130528008/Charlotte-Bobcats-reportedly-hire-coach-Vermont-ties|archive-date=June 28, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628201357/http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/viewart/20130528/SPORTS/130528008/Charlotte-Bobcats-reportedly-hire-coach-Vermont-ties|url-status=live}}

Clifford attended the University of Maine at Farmington, where he played college basketball for four years. In his final two seasons, he was team captain and was named Best Defensive Player. He graduated with a degree in special education.{{cite web|title=Steve Clifford|work=NBA.com|url=http://www.nba.com/coachfile/steve_clifford/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510002040/http://www.nba.com/coachfile/steve_clifford/index.html|archive-date=May 10, 2013|url-status=live}}

Coaching career

After graduating from college, Clifford became a teacher at Woodland High School in Maine. He also gained his first coaching experience at the school, serving as their head coach for two seasons while leading them to two tournaments.{{cite news|last=DiFillipo|first=Matt|title=BASKETBALL: Clifford still learning|url=http://www.kjonline.com/sports/clifford-still-learning_2011-11-24.html|date=November 25, 2011|newspaper=Kennebec Journal|archive-date=January 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108002908/http://www.kjonline.com/sports/clifford-still-learning_2011-11-24.html|url-status=live}} He then served as an assistant coach at St. Anselm College, Fairfield University, Boston University and Siena College. In 1995, he assumed the head coaching duties at Adelphi University and coached for four seasons leading his team to four appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament, an 86–36 (.705) record and four consecutive 20-win seasons. He was the first coach in the school's history with back-to-back 20-plus win seasons.

Clifford became an NBA assistant coach with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets under Jeff Van Gundy and quickly developed a reputation as a defensive expert. He then was an assistant for Stan Van Gundy with the Orlando Magic. He considers both the Van Gundy brothers as mentors.{{cite news|last=Media|first=Mark|title=Lakers assistant coach candidate profile: Steve Clifford|date=August 15, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-xpm-2012-aug-15-la-sp-ln-lakers-assistant-coach-candidate-steve-clifford-20120815-story.html|archive-date=June 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610205044/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/15/sports/la-sp-ln-lakers-assistant-coach-candidate-steve-clifford-20120815|url-status=live}} He reached the NBA Playoffs in each of his five seasons with Orlando, appearing in the NBA Finals in 2009.

Clifford then joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012–13 as an assistant.{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2012 |title=Lakers Announce Coaching Staff Changes |url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/120907lakers-announce-coaching-staff-changes |access-date=September 7, 2012 |website=NBA.com}}

=Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets=

On May 29, 2013, Clifford was hired by the Charlotte Bobcats to be their head coach.{{Cite web |date=May 29, 2013 |title=Charlotte Bobcats Name Steve Clifford Head Coach |url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/charlotte-bobcats-name-steve-clifford-head-coach |access-date=May 29, 2013 |website=NBA.com}}

Clifford implemented a defensive mentality in Charlotte during his first year as head coach turning the Charlotte Bobcats into a top five defensive team when in the years prior to his tenure they ranked near the bottom of the NBA in that category. He led the Bobcats to the 2014 NBA playoffs in his first year as head coach, during which he coached the Bobcats to a 43–39 record. The two years prior to him joining the Bobcats only had a combined total of 28 wins. He was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for April 2014 after he led the Bobcats to a 7–1 record leading to the playoffs. He finished fourth in Coach of the Year voting in his first year. On December 6, 2017, it was announced that Clifford would not coach indefinitely to deal with his health issue.{{cite web |date=December 6, 2017 |title=Steve Clifford Status Update |url=http://www.nba.com/hornets/press-releases/steve-clifford-status-update |access-date=December 6, 2017 |website=NBA.com}}{{cite web |last1= |first1= |date=December 6, 2017 |title=Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford out indefinitely with 'health issue' |url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/12/06/charlotte-hornets-coach-steve-clifford-away-team |access-date=December 6, 2017 |website=NBA.com}} On January 11, 2018, the Hornets announced that Clifford was medically cleared to return to coaching{{cite web |date=January 11, 2018 |title=Steve Clifford Status Update |url=http://www.nba.com/hornets/press-releases/steve-clifford-status-update-011118 |access-date=January 11, 2018 |website=NBA.com}} after a 21-game absence after dealing with sleep deprivation.{{cite web|title=Hornets coach Clifford back to work after sleep deprivation|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/01/16/hornets-coach-clifford-returns-to-work-after-21-game-absence/109512120/|website=USA TODAY|access-date=January 17, 2018|date=January 16, 2018}} After the 2017–18 regular season, he was fired as head coach on April 13, 2018, after five seasons coaching the team to a 196–214 record total.{{cite web |date=April 13, 2018 |title=Hornets Relieve Clifford of Head Coaching Duties |url=http://www.nba.com/hornets/hornets-relieve-clifford-head-coaching-duties |access-date=April 13, 2018 |website=NBA.com}}

=Orlando Magic=

On May 30, 2018, Clifford was named the head coach of the Orlando Magic.{{cite web|title=Orlando Magic Name Steve Clifford Head Coach|url=https://www.nba.com/magic/news/orlando-magic-name-steve-clifford-head-coach|website=NBA.com|access-date=May 30, 2018|date=May 30, 2018}}

The Magic started the 2018–19 season by splitting their first 24 games before falling 11 games under .500 after a 126–117 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.{{cite web |last1=Parry |first1=Roy |title=Paul George, Dennis Schroder shine as Magic fall 126-117 to Thunder |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-sp-magic-thunder-0130-story.html |website=OrlandoSentinel.com |access-date=April 9, 2019 |date=January 29, 2019}} Despite the dismal start, Clifford led the Magic on a dramatic turnaround. On April 7, 2019, Orlando defeated the Boston Celtics 116–108 to clinch their first playoff berth since the 2011–12 season.{{cite web |last1=Parry |first1=Roy |title=Orlando Magic clinch playoff spot for first time in seven seasons with win over Boston Celtics |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-sp-magic-celtics-0408-story.html |website=OrlandoSentinel.com |access-date=April 9, 2019 |date=April 7, 2019}} The win also clinched the Magic's first Southeast Division title since the 2009–10 season. This was the Magic's first playoff appearance since trading Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012,{{cite web |last1=Bontemps |first1=Tim |title=Wins by Nets, Magic leave three teams on the Eastern Conference bubble |url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26467749/wins-nets-magic-leave-three-teams-eastern-conference-bubble |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 9, 2019 |date=April 8, 2019}} ending the longest playoff drought in franchise history.{{cite web |title=NBA: Magic end lengthy play-off drought with win at Boston; Warriors earn West top seed by routing Clippers |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/basketball/nba-magic-end-lengthy-play-off-drought-with-win-at-boston-warriors-earn-west-top |website=The Straits Times |access-date=April 9, 2019 |date=April 8, 2019 |quote=With the win, Orlando ended the longest play-off drought in franchise history.}}

On June 5, 2021, Clifford and the Magic decided to part ways.{{cite web |title=Orlando Magic, Steve Clifford Mutually Agree to Part Ways |url=https://www.nba.com/magic/orlando-magic-steve-clifford-mutually-agree-part-ways-20210605 |website=NBA.com |access-date=June 5, 2021 |date=June 5, 2021}}

=Charlotte Hornets (second stint)=

After the 2021–22 NBA season concluded, the Hornets re-hired Clifford as their head coach on June 24, 2022.{{cite web |date=June 24, 2022 |title=Charlotte Hornets Name Steve Clifford Head Coach |url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/news/charlotte-hornets-name-steve-clifford-head-coach |access-date=June 24, 2022 |website=NBA.com}}

On April 3, 2024, the Hornets announced that Clifford would step down as head coach at the end of the 2023-24 season and move into a front-office advisory role.{{cite web |date=April 3, 2024 |title=Steve Clifford To Step Down As Hornets Head Coach After The Season |url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/news/steve-clifford-to-step-down-as-hornets-head-coach-after-the-season |access-date=April 3, 2024 |website=NBA.com}}

Head coaching record

=College=

{{CBB Yearly Record Start|type=coach|conference=|postseason=|poll=both}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|name=Adelphi Panthers

|conference=New York Collegiate Athletic Conference

|startyear=1995|endyear=1999}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry|season=1995–96|name=Adelphi|overall=23–7

|conference=17–5|confstanding=2nd|championship=conference tournament|postseason=NCAA D-II First Round}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry|season=1996–97|name=Adelphi|overall=21–9

|conference=17–5|confstanding=3rd|postseason=NCAA D-II First Round}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry|season=1997–98|name=Adelphi|overall=22–8

|conference=18–4|confstanding=3rd|postseason=NCAA D-II First Round}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry|season=1998–99|name=Adelphi|overall=20–12

|conference=14–8|confstanding=3rd|championship=conference tournament|postseason=NCAA D-II Sweet 16}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal|name=Adelphi University|overall=86–36 ({{Winning percentage|86|36}})

|confrecord=66–22

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record End|overall=86–36 ({{Winning percentage|86|36}})|poll=two

|polltype=|polltype2=}}

=NBA=

| style="text-align:left;"|Charlotte

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2013}}

| 82||43||39||{{Winning percentage|43|39}}|| align="center"|3rd in Southeast|||4||0||4||{{Winning percentage|0|4}}

| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in First round

| style="text-align:left;"|Charlotte

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2014}}

| 82||33||49||{{Winning percentage|33|49}}|| align="center"|4th in Southeast|||—||—||—||—

| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs

| style="text-align:left;"|Charlotte

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2015}}

| 82||48||34||{{Winning percentage|48|34}}|| align="center"|3rd in Southeast|||7||3||4||{{Winning percentage|3|4}}

| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in First round

| style="text-align:left;"|Charlotte

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2016}}

| 82||36||46||{{Winning percentage|36|46}}|| align="center"|4th in Southeast|||—||—||—||—

| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs

| style="text-align:left;"|Charlotte

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2017}}

| 82||36||46||{{Winning percentage|36|46}}|| align="center"|3rd in Southeast|||—||—||—||—

| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs

| style="text-align:left;"|Orlando

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2018}}

| 82||42||40||{{Winning percentage|42|40}}|| align="center"|1st in Southeast||5||1||4||{{Winning percentage|1|4}}

| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in First round

| style="text-align:left;"|Orlando

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2019}}

| 73||33||40||{{Winning percentage|33|40}}|| align="center"|2nd in Southeast||5||1||4||{{Winning percentage|1|4}}

| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in First round

| style="text-align:left;"|Orlando

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2020}}

| 72||21||51||{{Winning percentage|21|51}}|| align="center"|5th in Southeast||—||—||—||—

| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs

| style="text-align:left;"|Charlotte

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2022}}

| 82||27||55||{{Winning percentage|27|55}}|| align="center"|5th in Southeast|||—||—||—||—

| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs

| style="text-align:left;"|Charlotte

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2023}}

| 82||21||61||{{Winning percentage|21|61}}|| align="center"|4th in Southeast|||—||—||—||—

| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs

|-class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career||801||340||461||{{Winning percentage|340|461}}|| ||21||5||16||{{Winning percentage|5|16}}||

References

External links

[http://www.nba.com/coachfile/steve_clifford/index.html Profile] at NBA.com

Category:1961 births

Category:Living people

Category:Adelphi Panthers men's basketball coaches

Category:American basketball scouts

Category:American men's basketball coaches

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball coaches from Maine

Category:Basketball coaches from Vermont

Category:Boston University Terriers men's basketball coaches

Category:Charlotte Bobcats head coaches

Category:Charlotte Hornets head coaches

Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States

Category:College men's basketball players in the United States

Category:East Carolina Pirates men's basketball coaches

Category:Fairfield Stags men's basketball coaches

Category:High school basketball coaches in Maine

Category:Houston Rockets assistant coaches

Category:Los Angeles Lakers assistant coaches

Category:New York Knicks assistant coaches

Category:New York Knicks scouts

Category:Orlando Magic assistant coaches

Category:Orlando Magic head coaches

Category:People from Aroostook County, Maine

Category:People from Derby, Vermont

Category:People from Penobscot County, Maine

Category:Siena Saints men's basketball coaches

Category:University of Maine at Farmington alumni

Category:20th-century American sportsmen

Steve Clifford

Early life

Coaching career

=Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets=

=Orlando Magic=

=Charlotte Hornets (second stint)=

Head coaching record

=College=

=NBA=

See also

References

External links