The Long Island Nets will be looking for a new head coach before the start of the 2026-27 NBA G League season. Mfon Udofia, who spent three seasons in the role, has been poached by the Orlando Magic to serve as an assistant on their staff.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto was first with the news.
Over his three years with Long Island, Udofia was highly successful. In all three seasons, he led the squad to a .500 record or better while establishing one of the G League’s elite development program.
Throughout his time as Long Island’s head coach, he successfully helped revive players’ careers, such as Drew Timme and Killian Hayes, who went on to call-ups with Brooklyn, then other NBA clubs as well as All-G League berths. He also was in charge of developing younger players, including four members of the Flatbush 5 as well as Malchi Smith, E.J. Liddell, Chaney Johnson and Grant Nelson, all of whom wound up on the Brooklyn roster last season. Smith signed an extension with Brooklyn.
“We try to build all the players, of course. Priority guides the assignments in two ways, which is noted, but at the same time, we want to develop everyone,” Udofia told ND in November. “We’re not always going to have the two-way guys or assignment guys, so we want to develop all 10 players. We want to pour into these guys.”
There is also a possibility that Long Island could be looking for a new general manager, as well. Matt MacDonald, who has served in the role since 2024, is “circulating” as a potential name to be promoted into the role of Brooklyn’s chief scout, as ND reported.
The role has been vacant since Acie Law IV left in May, when he became the Chicago Bulls’ vice president of player personnel.
MacDonald is highly respected around the league.
An name to watch for LI’s head coaching job is Shawn Swords, who was Udofia’s associate head coach for the past two seasons.
Long Island will open the G League season at Nassau Coliseum on November 13.
