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Steve Clifford agrees to return as Charlotte Hornets coach

Steve Clifford has agreed on a deal to become the Charlotte Hornets' coach, returning for a second run on the job, the team announced Friday.

Clifford, who led the franchise to two playoff appearances in a five-year run that ended in 2018, returns in the wake of Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson changing his mind about accepting the Charlotte job and deciding instead to stay with the Warriors.

Clifford always had a strong working relationship with Hornets owner Michael Jordan and fit the profile of what Jordan and general manager Mitch Kupchak wanted for this developing, young roster: a coach who could improve them defensively and transform them into a playoff team.