Orlando • Utah Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek has emerged as a candidate for the head coaching job with the Orlando Magic.
Orlando is looking to replace Stan Van Gundy, who was fired May 21.
Hornacek, who is with the Jazz’s team at the Orlando Summer League, downplayed being linked to the Magic job.
He did not deny it, however.
"If that’s the case, then while I’m in Orlando and they want to talk to me, that’d be great," Hornacek said on Monday.
Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor declined to address the situation.
"I’ll pass on all of that," he said prior to Utah’s game against Detroit at the Amway Center.
Hornacek joined Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin’s staff after Jerry Sloan resigned midway through the 2010-11 season.
Prior to becoming a full-time assistant, Hornacek spent almost four years as a part-time shooting coach for the Jazz.
A former walk-on at Iowa State and second-round draft pick of the Phoenix Suns, Hornacek spent 14 seasons in the NBA, including seven in Utah.
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In 477 games with the Jazz, he averaged 14.4 points and four assists. He played on two teams that reached the NBA Finals.
Hornacek played in the 1992 All-Star Game and was two-time winner of the 3-point shooting contest during All-Star Weekend.
The Jazz retired Hornacek’s jersey — No. 14 — on Nov. 19, 2002.
In recent days, the Orlando Sentinel has reported the list of candidates for the job includes Michael Malone, Brian Shaw, Jacque Vaughn, Lindsey Hunter and Quin Snyder.
Vaughn spent four years as a backup point guard in Utah after the Jazz selected him in the first round of the 1998 draft. He has been an assistant in San Antonio for the past two seasons. In all, he played 12 seasons in the NBA.
Malone spent last season as Golden State’s lead assistant. He was the lead assistant for New Orleans in 2010-11 and also spent five seasons on the staff at Cleveland.
Shaw just completed his first season as Indiana’s associate head coach. Previously, he was an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers for seven seasons.
Hunter spent 17 years in the NBA, mostly with Detroit. He is the player development coach for the Phoenix Suns.
Snyder, a former assistant coach with the Lakers, has just accepted a job with CSKA Moscow.
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