5 Head coach candidates the Charlotte Hornets may consider

On Tuesday, Hornets head coach Steve Clifford announced that he would step down at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. He's expected to move into a front office advisory role with the team next season. Clifford served as head coach from 2013 to 2018 and again from 2022 to this season. 

Though Clifford’s teams made postseason appearances just twice in his seven seasons at the helm, he steps away as the winningest head coach in franchise history with 248 victories. Charlotte now joins the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards in search of a head coach this coming offseason. 

While the organization has had troubles landing eminent names for the position in the past, including when Warriors’ assistant Kenny Atkinson informally agreed to the role in 2022 but later turned the offer down, the team’s current roster and new executive VP of basketball operations Jeff Peterson offer a potential head coach an enticing opportunity for growth backed by a group of dynamic young players. 

Wild card: JJ Redick

While JJ Redick has no coaching experience, he has showcased his knowledge of NBA basketball by becoming one of the league’s most respected analysts with ESPN and through various podcasts. His comprehension of the game is so esteemed, he was interviewed for the Toronto Raptors head coaching vacancy in 2023.

Redick solidified himself as a North Carolina collegiate basketball legend with the Duke Blue Devils as a three-time All-American, National College Player of the Year honor in 2006 and as the school’s all-time leading scorer. While it’s unknown if Redick has an interest in taking on a coaching role, his expertise and his recent retirement from the league could be beneficial to Charlotte’s young core.