Steve Clifford agrees to return as Charlotte Hornets coach

Steve Clifford has agreed on a deal to become the Charlotte Hornets' coach, returning for a second run on the job, the team announced Friday.

Clifford, who led the franchise to two playoff appearances in a five-year run that ended in 2018, returns in the wake of Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson changing his mind about accepting the Charlotte job and deciding instead to stay with the Warriors.

Clifford always had a strong working relationship with Hornets owner Michael Jordan and fit the profile of what Jordan and general manager Mitch Kupchak wanted for this developing, young roster: a coach who could improve them defensively and transform them into a playoff team. Clifford is well-regarded among his coaching peers and respected for maximizing the talent on his rosters in both Charlotte and Orlando.

«We believe that his previous experience and coaching philosophy make him the best coach for our team,» Kupchak said in a release. «Steve has a proven track record of improving defenses and is detail oriented. He has a history of maximizing players' talent and working with them to develop and expand their skill sets. Steve is committed to playing with the same offensive pace that our fans are accustomed to seeing the last few years. We are confident that he will be able to help our young players continue to grow as we look to take the next step as a team.»

Clifford met with ownership and management in recent days and momentum quickly gathered on his candidacy to return, sources said.

The Hornets also strongly considered Mike D'Antoni, who interviewed with Jordan recently, sources said.

Long considered one of the NBA's top defensive coaches, Clifford will be tasked with improving that end of the court for a Charlotte team