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"You get a little smarter then," Vaughn said.
Vaughn won a title with the Spurs as a player in 2007, when Hennigan was working in the Spurs' front office. The two forged a relationship and landed him on Hennigan's radar during the recent coaching search.
After an initial interview, he met with Magic owner Rich DeVos and 13 other members of the DeVos family about 10 days ago. Team president Dan DeVos described it as "more of a conversation."
Martins said Vaughn's experience in a championship atmosphere and being around so many championship-caliber coaches helped push him over the top. It's why he said he doesn't feel like the Magic are taking a gamble replacing Van Gundy, who had one of the most successful runs in franchise history, with a first-time coach.
"I don't feel like we're sticking our neck out at all," Martins said. "I think he is clearly prepared for this opportunity. He's the right person for this moment in our history."
Vaughn said he hasn't yet spoken with Howard, but that he isn't just focused on Howard.
"I don't have a relationship," he said. "For me going forward, I just looking forward to the opportunity of communicating with every Magic player."
Magic forward Glen Davis attended the news conference Monday and said he "had some chills" listening to his new coach.
As far expectations and the challenges ahead, Vaughn said he plans to take them as they come.
"Would my resume look a little nicer if it said 14 years of experience? Maybe so," Vaughn said. "But I've sat in the seats that the guy I will coach have sat in. I'll be able to relate to their personal, physical, mental stresses that they come across everyday because I've been there. I think they'll relate to that and they'll appreciate that, and they'll know that I'm fighting for them and I believe in them."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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