Miami Heat Assistant Chris Quinn Could Emerge As Candidate To Replace Steve Clifford In Charlotte

Anthony Pasciolla | Apr 3, 2024

Apr 3, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn addresses the media - John E. Sokolowski/USA Today Sports / John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn is a valuable component of the coaching staff, which means his name will always come up when there is a vacancy.

The latest is Quinn being linked with the looming opening for the Charlotte Hornets, who are parting ways with Steve Clifford after the season according to ESPN. The network reported Quinn is on the list of candidates as the replacement.

"Sources told ESPN that Boston's Charles Lee, Sacramento's Jordi Fernandez, Miami's Chris Quinn, Phoenix's Kevin Young and others are among the league's assistant coaching candidates expected to be considered in the Charlotte process," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski wrote.

Quinn is in his 10th year with the Heat. He's had the luxury of learning from Erik Spoelstra, one of the best in  NBA history. He's also gained experience while filling in for Spoelstra two years ago when he was in the league's health and safety protocols. 

“Spo is a top 15 coach of all time," Quinn said in 2022. "Any time you have a mentor of that level, also with coach Riley around so much, mentors of that level. I’ve learned in my seven or eight years of coaching tremendously from Spo. It only makes sense that my voice sounds like him at this point.” 

A former NBA player, Quinn had a stint with the Heat before joining the staff. He is widely considered among the assistants in the league.

The Heat return to action Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers at Kaseya Center. They are coming off a win against the New York Knicks.