The news came as a shocker in the middle of the morning.
Scott Skiles had resigned. Surprisingly.
In the middle of the night the Orlando Magic as a franchise had completely changed. The coach who had his issues but still lead the team to a 10-win improvement was gone and the Magic were going to be thrown (late) into a coaching search at a critical point in their rebuild.
Orlando City faced that reality too Wednesday night as they fired Adrian Heath, the only coach the franchise has known since moving to Orlando in 2010. The firing was not surprising as the team’s results were lagging and the team was certainly losing its edge. It still makes the decision no less jarring.
The franchise and the team needed to grow some and has entered into uncertain waters. It was entering those uncertain waters already with some business decisions that have not sat well with supporters. But the chase for championships does that.
The hope for something more always leaves plenty of people uncomfortable with what they have. There is often that period of uncertainty when a team believes what it presently has is not going to get them where they want to be.
Orlando as a city has experienced that this year throughout all of its major sports teams in some form or fashion. The city’s unbounded enthusiasm and growth is seemingly constantly looking for more.
So it was UCF decided to move on from longtime football coach George O’Leary, the program’s architect who took it to new heights but seemed to have stagnated as the team faltered to an 0-12 record. Out as both athletic director and football coach the transformation began immediately after hiring Danny White.
Change was coming because, quite simply, more was expected. Out went Donnie Jones with basketball and Joi Williams in women’s basketball. Terry Rooney resigned as the baseball coach this week, setting off excitement over who might be coming to UCF in the near future. The four biggest sports on campus will have new head coaches in 2017.
The Orlando Magic changed coaches when Scott Skiles suddenly resigned from the position. Orlando City has lost its coach.
Even the Orlando Solar Bears changed CEOs with Jason Siegel suddenly stepping down after the season ended.
Virtually every major team in Orlando, outside the Orlando Predators have seen some type of coaching or management change this year. It is not a coincidence perhaps that only the Predators are in position to win a championship this year.
But even they face some instability thanks to the shaky ground the Arena Football League is standing on this year, having contracted to eight teams.
It has been a year of change for Orlando and its sports teams. But also one of disappointment. There was no NBA Playoffs, no bowl game, no NCAA Tournament, no Kelly Cup Playoffs, no MLS Playoffs. The city has seen a tremendous growth in its sports scene but not in its results.
And as the competition increases among the teams, fans will only pay attention to those that are worth their time. That is also the cost of being in a big city with multiple sports options too. Enough fans are able to support multiple teams, but most will be prudent with their dollar and their attention.
And that, as much as anything, has put the pressure on these teams. The marketplace has become crowded. The competition has increased with Orlando City’s runaway success (even as it seems to slow down).
That rush to the top is never a straight line. It always takes careful planning. And every team in Orlando is seemingly starting from ground one. There is reason to believe all will make it, but it will take time and patience.
UCF brought its football program to the future with Scott Frost, hoping to bring Oregon east. Frost has already led a revival in the Knights’ recruiting. Johnny Dawkins is hoping to do the same for the basketball program.
The Orlando Magic lost out on Scott Skiles, but brought in one of the best coaches in the NBA in Frank Vogel. He promises to establish a defensive identity similar to the one he had in Indiana with the Pacers. The team made some big moves to try to take the step up to the playoffs after a four-year absence.
The Orlando Solar Bears withstood a reported overture for their head coach and seem to be on a better path. The team has a more defined and better relationship with its parent club, the Toronto Maple Leafs. A return to the playoffs is certainly possible as the team regroups this offseason.
Orlando City too will recover. The new stadium will generate excitement. The strife within the organization when it comes to soccer decisions at least may be corrected — for better or worse, unity of message is important — and the team will get better as it figures out how to be successful in MLS.
And the Orlando Predators remain a favorite to win the Arena Bowl.
Orlando has gone through a lot of transition this year. A lot of transition. But it is hard not to expect more. And not to see more coming.
Many of the teams around town will have the chance to lift themselves in the coming years. All face critical seasons for setting the next eras of their teams. And they all appear to be happening at the same time.
Orlando though will be waiting patiently to see where these transitions take their teams.
