The Orlando Magic have named James Borrego, Wes Unseld Jr. and Brett Gunning as assistant coaches, General Manager Rob Hennigan and Head Coach Jacque Vaughn announced today.
In addition, Laron Profit and Luke Stuckey have been named assistant coaches/player development, while Gordon Chiesa has been named special consultant to the head coach.
“Each coach brings a unique skill set to the staff,” said Vaughn. “Collectively, this staff possesses a diverse basketball background. We are truly fortunate that these men have decided to join our Magic family.”
Borrego spent the last two seasons (2010-12) as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Hornets. Prior to joining New Orleans, he spent seven seasons with the San Antonio Spurs from 2003-10. Borrego started as an assistant video coordinator in the summer of 2003 and finished his tenure as an assistant coach. During those season seasons, he was a part of two NBA World Championship teams in 2005 and 2007.
Borrego began his coaching career at the University of San Diego, where he was an assistant coach for two seasons from 2001-03. During the 2002-03 campaign, San Diego captured the West Coast Conference Championship and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Borrego played three seasons at the University of San Diego, and during his senior season (2000-01), was named to the West Coast Conference All-Academic Team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in leadership studies from USD.
Born and raised in Albuquerque, N.M., Borrego led Albuquerque Academy to a pair of state championships.
Unseld spent the 2011-12 campaign as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. Prior to joining Golden State, he spent 13 seasons with the Washington Wizards, including six seasons as an assistant coach from 2005-11. Unseld played a key role in player development for the Wizards, helping Washington to four consecutive playoff appearances from 2004-08. His scouting reports were also vital in the team’s game planning and preparation.
Unseld began his NBA career in 1997, just four days after graduating from John Hopkins University, as a professional and college scout for Washington. He was promoted later that same year to advance scout. In addition to his nine-year tenure as advance pro scout for the Wizards, he also spent three seasons (1998-2000) as an advance scout for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. In 1998, Unseld spent part of the season serving as an assistant coach for the Mystics.
A native of Maryland and the son of Hall of Famer Wes Unseld, Unseld Jr. played on the men’s basketball team at John Hopkins for three seasons.
Gunning spent the last four seasons (2008-12) in various capacities with the Houston Rockets. He began with Houston in 2008 as the team’s director of player development, where he was responsible for improving player performance through on-court, one-on-one skill development and the use of video analysis. Gunning was then named an assistant coach prior to the 2011-12 campaign.
Prior to joining the Rockets, Gunning spent seven seasons (2001-08) as a member of the coaching staff at Villanova University under Jay Wright. During his time with the Wildcats, Gunning played a vital role in recruiting and developing a unit that secured four straight NCAA Tournament berths and made three trips to the Sweet 16. He was named associate coach in 2005 and was recognized following the 2007-08 season as one of the top 25 assistants in the nation by Rivals.com. Gunning’s responsibilities with Villanova included on-court teaching, recruiting and scouting.
Gunning was also a member of Wright’s staff at Hofstra University for seven seasons from1994-2001. He was a part of a staff that turned Hofstra into an American East powerhouse, posting a 72-22 (.766) record from 1998-2001. Gunning, who assisted with recruiting, individual instruction, scouting and film analysis at Hofstra, was also instrumental in the development of the Pride players.
A native of Broomall, Penn., Gunning graduated from Malvern Prep in 1990 and spent two years as a team manager during his undergraduate studies at Villanova, before accompanying former Wildcats Head Coach Rollie Massimino to UNLV in 1992. He then served as a student assistant for two years with the Runnin’ Rebels, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1994.
Profit played in 135 regular season games during his four-year NBA career with Washington and the L.A. Lakers, averaging 3.3 ppg., 1.5 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 11.4 minpg. He was originally selected in the second round (38th overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft by Orlando, but was traded to Washington prior to the 1999-2000 season and never played for the Magic. Stuckey has served as varsity head coach at San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas, CA, a suburb of San Diego, for the last four seasons.
Last season, Chiesa served as a consultant for the NBA Development League. He is best known in NBA circles from his time as an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz, a position he held for 16 seasons from 1989-90 to 2004-05. During his tenure, he helped guide Utah to two Western Conference crowns, three Midwest Division championships, a regular season record of 809-471 (.632) and 14 consecutive postseason appearances, including 149 playoff games. Chiesa has also been an assistant coach with Seattle and Memphis, and was the Grizzlies’ director of pro scouting.
