University of St. Thomas Athletics
Former Tommie Sean Sweeney named head coach of Orlando Magic
6/1/2026 10:52:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ORLANDO, FLA. – Former University of St. Thomas men's basketball player and alum Sean Sweeney was hired as the head coach of the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the organization announced on Monday, June 1. According to available records, Sweeney appears to be the first St. Thomas alumnus to be named head coach of a team in one of the four major professional sports leagues. Sweeney played for head coach Steve Fritz and the Tommies from 2002-2006.
After one season at UW-Green Bay, St. Paul native Sean Sweeney returned home to St. Thomas in 2002 and began a journey that would eventually lead to the NBA. When his playing career ended in 2006, Sweeney graduated from the university with a degree in sociology and began his coaching career. He was initially hired as the director of basketball operations at Evansville and eventually rose to the NBA, where he was hired as the New Jersey Nets video coordinator in 2011.
Sweeney's NBA coaching stops include the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks. He spent the 2025-26 season with the San Antonio Spurs, serving as the associate head coach. During his lone season with the Spurs, Sweeney helped guide Victor Wembanyama to his first NBA Defensive Player of the Year award while helping San Antonio advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
