By Jim Carchidi
May 4, 2026
After an all-too-brief but not unfamiliar postseason, the Orlando Magic are beginning the offseason with a search for a new head coach. The announcement of Jamahl Mosley's firing came just over 12 hours after the 116-94 Game 7 loss to the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Ending an era
Jamahl Mosley holds his final press conference as Orlando Magic head coach, addressing the media after the Game 7 loss in Detroit on May 3. Screen capture image
“We’re grateful to Jamahl (Mosley) for all he’s done for the Orlando Magic,” said Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman in an official release. “We appreciate his leadership and the positive contributions he made as head coach. While this was a difficult decision, we feel it’s time for a new voice and fresh perspective. We wish Jamahl and his family nothing but the best.”
Mosley was the team’s 15th head coach and previously served as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks before succeeding former Magic head coach, Steve Clifford, at the start of the 2021-22 season. Under Mosley, the Magic tallied a regular season record of 189-221, reaching the playoffs in the last three seasons but not advancing past the first round.
Déjà vu
Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman speaks to the media on May 4. Screen capture image
Orlando advanced this year with a 45-37 regular season record, but was eliminated in the first round after taking a 3-1 series lead over the Pistons. Forward Franz Wagner missed the final three games of the series after straining his right calf in Game 4. The Game 6 loss on May 1 at Kia Center came after the Magic held the lead in the first half, only to be outscored 55-19 in the second half. The Pistons went on to dominate the Magic in Game 7.
The same scenario played out in 2003, when the Magic lost three straight to the Pistons after notching a 3-1 series advantage. This year's loss ended what would have been the Magic’s deepest postseason run in 16 years. The team has not reached the second round since punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2010.
Looking ahead
Weltman said the team will focus on retaining the team's core players as the search for a head coach begins. Image courtesy of OrlandoMagic.com
During a May 4 press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center, Weltman said losing Game 6 left the team “shell-shocked,” adding the issues which led to the early playoff exits in each of the last three postseasons are an “organizational matter.”
“That’s not on one person, but it just seems like it’s time for a new perspective.”
As the focus now shifts to next season, the team plans to move forward with the roster intact. "When healthy, we were top five defense and top 10 offense," Weltman said. "I don't want to tear this thing down and dismantle it because of the way it ended."
The search for a new head coach will begin immediately, but there are no particular traits which Weltman is looking for. Instead, he is looking to keep options open and consider every possibility.
“There are no preconceived non-negotiables,” he said.
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About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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