AleksandarN
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2880611
Brian Hill finally got the Magic into the playoffs, but getting swept by Detroit may have led the organization to clean house.
Multiple media reports on Wednesday said that Hill will not return as coach of the team and will be offered another position with the team.
An official in the NBA, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Hill and the club were still negotiating his exit, and it was not clear whether he resigned or was fired.
His job status has been in question since the Magic were eliminated, but the coach had said he was not worried. After missing the playoffs in his first season, Hill had to feel more secure after guiding the Magic into the postseason this year.
But the Magic were not really competitive against the Pistons in the first round, and there has been speculation for some time that Hill and Magic general manager Otis Smith do not share the same vision of the team.
This was Hill's second stint with the Magic. He guided an Orlando team with Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway to the playoffs from 1994-96. The 1994-95 team was swept by the Rockets in the NBA Finals.
Hill was dismissed midway through the 1996-97 season. Hill moved on to coach the Vancouver Grizzlies in just their third season in existence. He suffered through a 19-63 record in his first year and then was let go after 22 games in 1999-2000 with the Grizzlies limping along at 4-18.
He rebounded with another head coaching job in Orlando in 2005-06 and led the Magic to a 36-46 mark. The Magic were 40-42 this season but snuck into the playoffs in the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.
Brian Hill finally got the Magic into the playoffs, but getting swept by Detroit may have led the organization to clean house.
Multiple media reports on Wednesday said that Hill will not return as coach of the team and will be offered another position with the team.
An official in the NBA, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Hill and the club were still negotiating his exit, and it was not clear whether he resigned or was fired.
His job status has been in question since the Magic were eliminated, but the coach had said he was not worried. After missing the playoffs in his first season, Hill had to feel more secure after guiding the Magic into the postseason this year.
But the Magic were not really competitive against the Pistons in the first round, and there has been speculation for some time that Hill and Magic general manager Otis Smith do not share the same vision of the team.
This was Hill's second stint with the Magic. He guided an Orlando team with Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway to the playoffs from 1994-96. The 1994-95 team was swept by the Rockets in the NBA Finals.
Hill was dismissed midway through the 1996-97 season. Hill moved on to coach the Vancouver Grizzlies in just their third season in existence. He suffered through a 19-63 record in his first year and then was let go after 22 games in 1999-2000 with the Grizzlies limping along at 4-18.
He rebounded with another head coaching job in Orlando in 2005-06 and led the Magic to a 36-46 mark. The Magic were 40-42 this season but snuck into the playoffs in the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.
