Clifford the Perfect Assistant
By Nick Adams | October 5, 2007
When Stan Van Gundy was hired as head coach in June, he turned to a reliable coach, which he had known from their early coaching days in New England, for assistance on the Magic bench.
Steve Clifford joined the Magic as an assistant coach on June 27, 2007, and was happy to help out an old friend.
"When I first spoke with Stan I was ecstatic because he is a terrific coach," said Clifford. "I knew I would learn a lot and grow professionally from this opportunity."
Clifford was unemployed when Van Gundy called having just been let go by the Rockets where he worked under Stan's brother Jeff Van Gundy for the last four seasons (2003-2007).
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. While at St. Anselm's, Clifford met Stan for the first time when Van Gundy was the head coach at Division II University of Massachusetts Lowell.
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.
Although Coach Clifford enjoyed his experiences in college, he much prefers coaching at the professional level.
"The professional game is all basketball whereas in college you have to deal with recruiting and making sure the kids are doing well in the classroom."
Clifford continued, "I would say I enjoy the professional level much better because it is all about basketball and you get a chance to just focus on the game specifically."
Clifford has been a very successful head coach but says he is pleased and looking forward to his role as an assistant.
"I will try to keep the players' games in rhythm plus perform anything else in the office that is organized by Stan. He has us doing a little bit of everything and I am focused on being the best assistant I can be for him."
"I have really been fortunate because there hasn't been a single year I haven't enjoyed coaching," added Clifford.
A common theme among the assistant coaches has been their praise of the city of Orlando and the entire Magic Organization.
"It's been great," Said Clifford. "The people and the organization of Orlando have really gone out of their way to make all of us feel comfortable."
Coach Clifford hopes to return the favor by helping the Magic return to the postseason and advance past the first round.
When Stan Van Gundy was hired as head coach in June, he turned to a reliable coach, which he had known from their early coaching days in New England, for assistance on the Magic bench.Steve Clifford joined the Magic as an assistant coach on June 27, 2007, and was happy to help out an old friend.
"When I first spoke with Stan I was ecstatic because he is a terrific coach," said Clifford. "I knew I would learn a lot and grow professionally from this opportunity."
Clifford was unemployed when Van Gundy called having just been let go by the Rockets where he worked under Stan's brother Jeff Van Gundy for the last four seasons (2003-2007).
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. While at St. Anselm's, Clifford met Stan for the first time when Van Gundy was the head coach at Division II University of Massachusetts Lowell.
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.
Although Coach Clifford enjoyed his experiences in college, he much prefers coaching at the professional level.
"The professional game is all basketball whereas in college you have to deal with recruiting and making sure the kids are doing well in the classroom."
Clifford continued, "I would say I enjoy the professional level much better because it is all about basketball and you get a chance to just focus on the game specifically."
Clifford has been a very successful head coach but says he is pleased and looking forward to his role as an assistant.
"I will try to keep the players' games in rhythm plus perform anything else in the office that is organized by Stan. He has us doing a little bit of everything and I am focused on being the best assistant I can be for him."
"I have really been fortunate because there hasn't been a single year I haven't enjoyed coaching," added Clifford.
A common theme among the assistant coaches has been their praise of the city of Orlando and the entire Magic Organization.
"It's been great," Said Clifford. "The people and the organization of Orlando have really gone out of their way to make all of us feel comfortable."
Coach Clifford hopes to return the favor by helping the Magic return to the postseason and advance past the first round.
