Hornets Linked to Surprising Head Coach Candidate

This week, the Charlotte Hornets received permission to interview four head coaching candidates in the aftermath of Steve Clifford’s decision to transfer to a front office role: Denver Nuggets lead assistant David Adelman, Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez, Boston Celtics lead assistant Charles Lee, and Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young.

Miami Heat lead assistant Chris Quinn is expected to be interviewed as well.

Now, a sixth head coach candidate has emerged for the Hornets (per Yahoo Sports insider Jake Fischer): Utah Jazz assistant Lamar Skeeter.

Lamar Skeeter Linked to Hornets Head Coach Search

Skeeter has been an assistant coach with the Jazz since 2014 but initially began his coaching career as an assistant to the Canton Charge’s coaching staff. The Cleveland Cavaliers G League affiliate, the Charge were then coached by former Jazz and current Dallas Mavericks assistant Alex Jensen. The next season, Skeeter was named a player development coach and video intern under former Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Skeeter played collegiately at a D-2 program (Walsh), earning NAIA Third Team All-American honors. He doesn’t have any NBA head coaching experience. However, he was named as the head coach of the Jazz’s Summer League team in 2019 and 2022. This is a move that’s become increasingly common for individuals who have head coaching potential.

In his first run as Summer League head coach, he made a strong impression while going 2-1. Indeed, former Jazz wing Miye Oni lauded Skeeter’s understanding of defensive principles. “Coach Skeeter is great,” Oni says, per former Deseret News reporter Eric Woodyard. “He’s taught us a lot, especially defensively and how to guard.”

Then coaching under Quin Snyder, Skeeter praised the pedagogy of the now Atlanta Hawks head coach. Even while Jazz players applauded his own.

“We talk a lot,” Skeeter says of Snyder. “Coach has such a tremendous impact on me and the rest of the staff.”

“There’s no way we can go through this process without him. I just try and pick his brain and get his input on things and he watches. He knows what’s going on.”

Notably, when the Jazz were looking for Snyder’s replacement in 2022, Skeeter was interviewed for the position.

Last Word on Lamar Skeeter

With the Hornets, Skeeter’s extensive experience, player development background, and designation as a defensive specialist will all be alluring.

Furthermore, at 34 years old, he may be able to connect with the Hornets’ young core in a way the 62-year-old Clifford could not. Clifford never appeared to have lost the locker room. Nonetheless, the Hornets’ young core has been criticized for their lack of professionalism. Skeeter could be the right person to help them develop not just as players, but as men.