The Long Island Nets are keeping the job in the family.
On July 7, the team promoted Shawn Swords to head coach, elevating a longtime assistant who has already spent four years inside Brooklyn’s developmental system. He becomes the eighth head coach in franchise history and steps into the role after Mfon Udofia left in June for an assistant coaching job with Sean Sweeney’s staff on the Orlando Magic.
Swords has been part of the organization since the 2022-23 season, when he arrived as an assistant coach. He moved up to associate head coach in 2023 and spent the last three seasons working alongside Udofia during what the team described as the most successful stretch in franchise history.
“Shawn has been a cornerstone of our staff since joining the organization, and we're thrilled to elevate him to head coach,” Long Island Nets general manager Matt MacDonald said in a statement. “He has been an invaluable presence on our bench and a trusted voice in the development of our players. His experience, basketball acumen and dedication to the organization have prepared him to lead our team on Long Island, and we're excited to support Shawn and his staff as they guide the next generation of talent.”
The move keeps the Nets’ developmental operation steady instead of bringing in an outside hire. Swords has already been deeply involved in helping prepare players for NBA chances, and he also served as acting head coach on multiple occasions when Udofia was away from the team.
Before his time in Long Island, Swords spent 15 seasons as head coach at Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada. He also coached with Canada’s junior national teams in 2010 and 2011 and later worked at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship.
His background goes beyond coaching, too. Swords played professionally overseas for a decade in countries including France and Italy, represented Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and had a strong college career at Laurentian, where he earned All-Canadian honors and helped the program reach a national semifinal.
Now he takes over a Long Island program that has become one of the NBA G League’s most respected developmental affiliates. With the organization continuing to funnel young talent through the system, his first season on the bench could be a significant one. The 2026-27 season is expected to include time in the G League for several young Nets, including two-way forward Tyler Bilodeau and other developing prospects.
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