According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford will step down from his position as the team’s head coach and move into a front office role.
ESPN Sources: Steve Clifford is stepping down as the Charlotte Hornets’ coach at the end of the season and working to finalize a front office role with the franchise. Clifford informed his assistants and players on Wednesday morning. pic.twitter.com/b8ADCn4gFO
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 3, 2024
In a series of subsequent Tweets in that same thread, Woj notes that the front office was open to the idea of Clifford returning as coach next season, but it was Clifford himself who decided he did not want to subject himself to that grind next season.
An early list of potential candidates, again according to Woj, include:
- Jordi Fernandez of the Kings
- Charles Lee of the Celtics
- Chris Quinn of the Heat
- Kevin Young of the Suns
Clifford has been dealt a bad hand in two seasons since his return to the Hornets. Both seasons have seen his team decimated by injuries and then a trade deadline roster purge in 2024. He’s amassed a 45-112 record in those two seasons. He has a 241-326 record across both Hornets tenures, though he’s never had an overly talented roster to work with.
He’ll join Mitch Kupchak working some nebulous front office role that keeps him connected with the organization, though no word on what his job description will be. He seems very well liked within the building and by players, and he definitely has some valuable insight. It’s time for a change though, and the Hornets will get a head start on searching for his replacement.
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