Pelicans hire Jamahl Mosley as head coach

The New Orleans Pelicans announced former Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley as their new head coach on Monday.

ESPN reported the two sides had agreed to a five-year contract, but the team did not confirm the length of his deal.

He becomes the 10th head coach to lead the Pelicans since the expansion franchise joined the NBA in 2002.

Mosley, 47, replaces Willie Green, who was fired Nov. 15 after a 2-10 start. Former Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego filled the role the rest of the season on an interim basis.

"Jamahl has earned tremendous respect across the NBA for his leadership, professionalism, and the strong relationships he develops with players and staff," said Joe Dumars, the Pelicans' executive vice president of basketball operations, in a team news release. "He has consistently demonstrated an ability to develop young talent while establishing teams that compete with toughness, discipline, and togetherness. His teams reflect his coaching style through their defensive intensity, effort, preparation, and commitment to playing the right way. Those qualities reinforce the long-term stability of a winning culture."

Mosley was a veteran NBA assistant coach when he was named head coach of the Magic before the 2020-21 season. After two sub-.500 finishes, Orlando qualified for the playoffs the past three campaigns but never advanced out of the first round.

Mosley was fired May 4, the day after the Magic were eliminated from the playoffs by the Detroit Pistons in a series that lasted seven games. After four, the Magic held a 3-1 series lead.

With Orlando, Mosley had a 189-221 record, 7-12 in the postseason.

The Pelicans were 150-190 in five seasons under Green. They finished 49-33 and qualified as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference at the end of the 2023-24 season. The No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder swept them in the first round, and New Orleans plummeted to 21-61 the following season.

Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham, Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel and Borrego were among those who also interviewed for the New Orleans job, ESPN reported.

Orlando has not hired a replacement for Mosley.

--Field Level Media