College - Maine-Farmington
Steve Clifford joined the Magic as an assistant coach on June 27, 2007. He spent the last four seasons (2003-07) as a member of the Houston Rockets coaching staff. Prior to joining the Rockets, Clifford spent three seasons with New York - two years as an assistant coach (2001-03) and one season (2000-01) as an advance scout.

Clifford entered the NBA with more than a decade of college coaching experience. Before joining the professional ranks, he served as an assistant coach at East Carolina University for one season. Clifford came to East Carolina after four years as head coach at Adelphi University, where he compiled a record of 86-36 (.705). He led Adelphi to four straight 20-win seasons, becoming the first coach in school history to record consecutive 20-plus win campaigns. He also guided Adelphi to four appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Prior to taking the reigns at Adelphi, Clifford began his college coaching career as an assistant at St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire. After four seasons at St. Anselm’s, he was an assistant for one year at Fairfield University. The following year, Clifford moved to Boston University, where he coached for four seasons. He then moved to Siena College, where he coached for one year before going to Adelphi. Clifford’s first coaching experience came at Woodland High School in Maine, where he coached for two seasons.

Clifford graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington with a degree in special education. He played four years with the Beavers, earning Best Defensive Player honors in his final two years while serving as team captain.