Magic announce additions to coaching staff ahead of Summer League opener

The Orlando Magic have added five assistant coaches to newly hired head coach Jamahl Mosley’s staff that have extensive experience and backgrounds deeply rooted in development.

The organization officially announced Sunday that they had brought on assistant coaches Nate Tibbetts, Dale Osbourne, Jesse Mermuys, Bret Brielmaier, and Lionel Chalmers to serve on Mosley’s bench.

Tibbetts will likely serve as Mosley’s lead assistant after spending the last eight seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers (2013-2021). The University of South Dakota alum served as Portland’s associate head coach (under Terry Stotts) from 2019-2021. Tibbetts’ time in Portland has coincided with the careers (and NBA development) of franchise cornerstone guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

Before Portland, Tibbetts was an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers (2011-2013). During this time, Tibbetts coached alongside then assistant coach Mosley.

At the developmental level, Tibbetts has also served as a head coach in the G-League (Sioux Falls, 2007-09; Tulsa, 2009-11) as well as for Team USA in the Pan American Games (2011, bronze medal).

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Tibbetts coached in Portland with Osbourne - who will be joining the former in Central Florida. Osbourne has spent the last nine seasons (2012-2021) with the Trail Blazers. Osbourne and Tibbets actually go back further than their collective time in Portland. Osbourne coached under Tibbetts in Tulsa (Oklahoma City’s affiliate in the G-League) and for Team USA (Pan American Games, 2011). The University of South Alabama alum served as the head coach of the Tulsa 66ers during the 2011-12 season.

Osbourne has coached in the NBA, G-League, WNBA, Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), United States Basketball League (USBL), and at the collegiate-level.

Mermuys joins the Magic after coaching the last two seasons in Sacramento (2019-21). Before serving as an assistant with the Kings, he coached on the Los Angeles Lakers bench for three years (2016-19).

The University of Arizona alum brings over 20 years of experience to Orlando, coaching at the high school, collegiate, NBA G-League (Raptors 905, 2015-16), and NBA levels. Mermuys and Mosley crossed paths during their time in Denver, where Mosley was coaching and Mermuys served as a Nuggets’ video coordinator, advanced scout, and assistant coach (2008-2012).

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Brielmaier, another University of Arizona alum, began his coaching career as a grad assistant in Tucson (after playing four seasons for legendary coach Lute Olsen). His break in the NBA came with the San Antonio Spurs, where he served as a video coordinator and player development assistant (from 2009-13).

Brielmaier won a ring serving as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he spent three seasons from 2013-2016 - one of those coaching with Mosley.

After four years coaching in Brooklyn (2016-20), Brielmaier served as the head coach of the Long Island Nets inside the NBA G-League ‘bubble’ this past season.

Chalmers has been a part of the Orlando organization since 2017, serving as a video coordinator, as well as an associate coach focused on player development (2019-21).

The Xavier University Hall of Fame inductee played professional basketball for eleven years in the NBA (36 games in 2004), Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Russia, Bulgaria, and France.

Coach Mosley will guide Orlando’s Summer League team (at least to begin play), scheduled to begin play Monday night in Las Vegas against the Golden State Warriors. It’s unclear whether Orlando’s first-time head coach will lead the team for the duration of time the Magic are in Las Vegas, or if he will turn over the reins at some point to an assistant.