John Beilein joining Magic as senior coaching consultant

John Beilein is headed back to the NBA.

The former Cavaliers coach and longtime University of Michigan coach is joining the Magic as a senior coaching consultant, Beilein announced Monday.

Beilein said new Orlando coach Sean Sweeney approached him about joining his staff in the consulting role.

“Sean has a brilliant future as an NBA head coach, and I’m honored he asked me to serve him and the Magic in this capacity,” Beilein wrote. “I look forward to supporting the coaching staff and contributing any way I can to the organization’s continued growth and success.”

Beilein, 73, is best known for his highly successful 12-year run at Michigan, where he went 278-150 and led the Wolverines to two NCAA championship games.

His first shot at the NBA didn’t go nearly as well.

The Cavs hired Beilein away from Michigan in 2019, signing him to a five-year contract as part of their post-LeBron James rebuild. He lasted only 54 games, going 14-40 before resigning in February 2020 after a difficult transition from the college game.

Beilein eventually returned to the NBA with the Pistons, spending the 2021-22 season as a senior advisor. More recently, he has worked as a college basketball analyst for Big Ten Network.

Now he’ll serve as another experienced voice for Sweeney, who is entering his first season as an NBA head coach.

And unlike Beilein’s last NBA head-coaching adventure, this time he won’t have to worry about wins, losses or substitutions.

Consulting can be a pretty good gig.