Head coach Stan Van Gundy leads the Orlando Magic against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on April 22, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Magic 101-74. Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images.
WESH.com
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando Magic officials announced today that they have released head coach Stan Van Gundy of his job.
Also, General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith and the Orlando Magic have mutually parted ways, according to orlandomagic.com
Officials will hold a 4:30 p.m. news conference to discuss the future of the organization.
Last week Van Gundy spoke with WESH 2's Larry Ridley saying that he won't be meeting with upper management anytime soon to discuss his future with the team.
"I'm not meeting with them to my knowledge," said Stan Van Gundy via text.
Van Gundy went on to say the organization had not given him any kind of timetable about the decision on his job.
Last month, Van Gundy spoke out about the rumors about Dwight Howard asking for his ouster. He said he knows Howard asked for him to be fired because someone within the organization told him so.
The interview became awkward when Howard showed up during it.
Howard, the team's superstar center, denied those claims and said he never asked for the firing.
Those rumors of the request surfaced amid Howard's signing an extension with the Magic.
Van Gundy was named head coach of the team on June 7, 2007 and had one year left on his contract.
First Coast News