Randy Ayers, Tom Sterner join Brian Hill’s staff
Magic Name Sterner & Ayers Assistant Coaches
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“Randy (Ayers) and Tom (Sterner) are two of the hardest working coaches in the business,” said head coach Brian Hill. “They are known for their attention to detail, the way they prepare for a game and for helping players reach their full potential. We are very excited to have them as part of the Magic family.”
Ayers spent six-plus seasons as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers’ coaching staff and served as head coach of the Sixers in 2003-04, posting a 21-31 record (.404). As top assistant under then-coach Larry Brown, Ayers helped guide the 76ers to five consecutive playoff appearances, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2001. Known for his pressure-defense mindset and up-tempo style, he joined the Sixers as the physical conditioning coach in June 1997 before earning a spot as an assistant coach in July 1998.
Prior to arriving in Philadelphia, Ayers spent eight seasons as head coach at The Ohio State University. He guided the Buckeyes to an overall record of 124-108 (.534), four post-season appearances and back-to-back Big Ten championships in 1991 and 1992. Ayers was named National Coach of the Year in 1991 by both The Associated Press and Black Coaches Association. He led his 1991 squad to a school-record 27 victories and its first of two conference titles. Ayers received Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in both 1991 and 1992, after directing the Buckeyes to a school-record 15 conference victories in each season.
Ayers spent six years as an assistant coach at Ohio State, including three years under current Maryland head coach Gary Williams and three years under Eldon Miller, before being promoted to head coach in 1989. He arrived in Columbus after two years as an assistant coach at the U.S. Military Academy, where he coordinated the team's recruiting. Prior to his stint at West Point, he spent two years as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
The Ohio Player of the Year as a senior at Springfield North High School, Ayers went on to an impressive collegiate career at Miami (Ohio). A four-year starter and an all-conference performer for the Red Hawks, he finished his career with 1,203 points (11.5 ppg.) and 667 rebounds (6.4 rpg.), leading Miami (Ohio) to back-to-back Mid-American Conference championships in 1977 and 1978 and an NCAA Tournament appearance during his senior season. He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the third round of the 1978 NBA Draft, but was released on the final cut. Prior to starting his coaching career, Ayers played a year of professional basketball for the Reno Bighorns of the Western Basketball Association (WBA) and was named to the WBA All-Star Team as a second team selection.
Sterner originally joined the organization in June of 1989 and was an assistant coach for nine seasons (1994-2002). He also served as the top assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors from 2002-04.
Sterner’s coaching responsibilities have included detailed game and opponent preparation, as well as individual player development. While the top assistant in Golden State, he helped the Warriors improve on both ends of the court. In 2003-04, with Sterner acting as ‘defensive coordinator,’ Golden State was the most improved defensive team in the NBA, allowing 9.6 fewer points per game than the previous season. He was in charge of the team’s offense in 2002-03. The Warriors ranked second in the league in scoring that season, averaging 102.4 points per game.
Sterner served as an assistant coach for the Eastern Conference during the 1995 NBA All-Star Game held in Phoenix and helped the Magic reach the playoffs five times, including its run to the 1995 NBA Finals. Sterner has also served as head coach of both Orlando’s and Golden State’s summer league teams during his career.
Prior to his promotion as assistant coach in September of 1994, Sterner served as the Magic’s video scout for four seasons. He served as chairman of the NBA Technology and Scouting Committee from 1994-2004 and was instrumental in the development of the Coaches’ Tools software currently used by NBA teams for scouting purposes. He has consulted with companies such as IBM, IDS, Avid Technologies and XOS Technologies.
During his first tenure in Orlando, Sterner directed all aspects of the team’s NBA advanced scouting preparation. He also developed and directed the Orlando Magic Youth Camp program, which features camps throughout the state of Florida and as far north as Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sterner continues to conduct basketball clinics nationally and internationally.
Sterner served as assistant coach/director of player personnel for the Tampa Bay Sun Blasters of the United States Basketball League during the summer of 1992. His responsibilities included drafting and signing of players, as well as coaching the team.
From 1987-90, Sterner served as assistant coach at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. While at F&M, the Diplomats achieved a 76-12 record, won three straight Middle Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made three NCAA postseason tournament appearances and had the distinction of being the #1 Division III team in the nation as voted by the Associated Press.
Prior to F&M, Sterner spent six years as head coach at Lancaster (Pa.) Catholic High School, where his team participated in several district and state competitions. He also assisted the Philadelphia 76ers for eight years during their veteran’s camp.
