Brian Hill (basketball)

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This article is about the basketball coach. For other uses, see Brian Hill (disambiguation).

Brian Hill (born September 19, 1947 in East Orange, New Jersey[1]) is an American basketball coach formerly in the NBA. On May 23, 2007, after multiple media sources reported that Hill would not return to coach the Orlando Magic for the 2007-08 NBA season, but would instead be offered another position within the organisation,[2] the Magic released a statement that he would not return as coach of the Magic,[3] although it was reported he was actually fired by general manager Otis Smith.[4] It was a position he had held since May 24, 2005. It was his second stint with the team.

Hill has more than 30 years of coaching experience at the high school, collegiate, and professional level. He has been assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, New Orleans Hornets,[3] and New Jersey Nets.[3] He was the head coach of the Orlando Magic from 1993 to 1997 and is the Magic's most successful coach with a record of 191-104. During that time period, he led the Magic to their only NBA Finals in 1995 and also led the team to a 60-22 record the following season. However, following the loss of star center Shaquille O'Neal to free agency during the off-season, he was fired mid-season in 1997 after a player revolt was led by disgruntled star Penny Hardaway.[3]

Following his firing from the Magic, he became head coach of the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies, only entering their third year in the league. In his second season, Hill was fired. Following that, he became an assistant coach of the New Jersey Nets, where he remained until the end of the postseason. He was then rehired by the Magic and he led the team to a 36-46 record in the 2005-2006 season.

Hill, a graduate of Kennedy College in Nebraska, has two adult children. One, the daughter, has cystic fibrosis, and as a result, Hill has supported cystic fibrosis research by appearing at fundraisers and speaking to crowds about the disease. He and his wife live in Orlando, Florida, where they have remained even after his original departure from the Magic.

Preceded by
Matt Guokas		 Orlando Magic Head Coach
1993–1997		 Succeeded by
Richie Adubato
Preceded by
Stu Jackson		 Vancouver Grizzlies Head Coach
1997–1999		 Succeeded by
Lionel Hollins
Preceded by
Chris Jent (interim)		 Orlando Magic Head Coach
2005–2007		 Succeeded by
Stan Van Gundy

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Back to the Magic: Hill Returns to Orlando", Orlando Magic. Accessed March 6, 2008.
  2. ^ Q&A: Was Brian Hill fired?, by Deanna Gugel, Orlando Sentinel, posted May 23, 2007
  3. ^ a b c d Hill out as coach of the Magic May 24, 2007
  4. ^ Orlando Magic coach Brian Hill fired, by Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel, posted May 24, 2007

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies Head Coaches
Winters • Jackson • Hill • Hollins • Lowe • Brown • Fratello • Barone • Iavaroni
v • d • e
Orlando Magic
The Franchise
Arenas
Coaches
Guokas • Hill • Adubato • Daly • Rivers • Davis • Jent • Hill • Van Gundy
D-League Affiliate
Administration
RDV Sports, Inc. (Rich DeVos, Owner & Chairman) • Otis Smith (General Manager) • Stan Van Gundy (Head Coach)
Notable Figures
Retired Numbers
6 (The Sixth Man)
Conference Championships (1)
1995 (Eastern)
Rivals