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Stan Van Gundy

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Stan Van Gundy
Van Gundy in 2009
Personal information
Born (1959-08-26) August 26, 1959 (age 65)
Indio, California, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Listed weight270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High schoolAlhambra (Martinez, California)
CollegeBrockport (1977–1981)
Coaching career1981–2021
Career history
As coach:
1981–1983Vermont (assistant)
1983–1986Castleton
1986–1987Canisius (assistant)
1987–1988Fordham (assistant)
1988–1992UMass Lowell
1992–1994Wisconsin (assistant)
1994–1995Wisconsin
1995–2003Miami Heat (assistant)
2003–2005Miami Heat
2007–2012Orlando Magic
2014–2018Detroit Pistons
2020–2021New Orleans Pelicans
Career highlights and awards

Stanley Alan Van Gundy (born August 26, 1959)[1] is an American former basketball coach who is a television commentator for NBA on TNT and College Basketball on CBS. Prior to TNT, he was most recently the head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA. He also served as the head coach and president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons from 2014 to 2018.[2] From 2003 to 2005, he was the head coach of the Miami Heat but resigned in 2005 mid-season, returning the job over to Pat Riley. Van Gundy then coached the Orlando Magic for five seasons from 2007 to 2012, leading them to the 2009 NBA Finals. He is the older brother of former New York Knicks and Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

Playing career

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Van Gundy was a starting guard at Alhambra High School in Martinez, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. After his senior year, he played for an all-county team that also included Kenny Carter, whose coaching career was the basis for Coach Carter, a Hollywood feature film starring Samuel L. Jackson. Van Gundy played college basketball for his father, Bill Van Gundy, at SUNY-Brockport, a Division III school, until he graduated in 1981 with a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Physical Education.[3]

Coaching career

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College

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Van Gundy began his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Vermont, 1981–83, and was head coach at Castleton State College in Vermont for three seasons from 1983 to 1986.[3] After his first season as Castleton head coach, the NAIA named Van Gundy the District 5 Coach of the Year.[4] Castleton finished 1984–85 the top team in the NAIA's Mayflower Conference and won the NAIA District 5 tournament.[5][6] After serving as an assistant coach at Canisius College in 1987 and Fordham University in 1988, Van Gundy was named head coach at the University of Lowell. During his four-season tenure at the school, which saw the institution become the University of Massachusetts Lowell, he compiled a record of 54–60 and coached Leo Parent, whom Van Gundy called "the best Division 2 player in the nation."[7]

Van Gundy then became an assistant at the University of Wisconsin under Stu Jackson.[3] When Jackson left after 2 years to become general manager of the expansion NBA Vancouver franchise, Van Gundy was promoted to replace him as head coach and given a 5-year contract. Coming off an 18–11 season with future NBA star Michael Finley back for his senior year and highly touted recruits coming in, the team went into the season with high expectations, but ended with a disappointing 13–14 record (7–11 and ninth place in the Big 10). Van Gundy was fired at the end of the season and given a buyout for the 4 years remaining on his contract. Van Gundy blamed financial concerns at the school for his firing.[8] The team would go on to hire Dick Bennett from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and he finished his first year with a 17–15 record and NIT appearance despite losing Finley and other key players.

Overall, Van Gundy compiled a record of 135–92 (.595) in eight years as a college head coach.[3]

Miami Heat

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Van Gundy in 2005

When Pat Riley left the New York Knicks to coach the Miami Heat, the Knicks refused to let him hire Jeff Van Gundy, perhaps his most valuable assistant. Riley hired Stan, his brother, saying "I wanted at least one Van Gundy with me".[9] Stan Van Gundy spent 12 years with the Heat. After working as an assistant under Riley, Van Gundy was named head coach when Riley abruptly resigned as coach prior to the 2003–04 season. However, Riley remained as President of the team. Van Gundy took over a team that had won 25 games the previous season. He led them to a 42-win season, in which they won a very high percentage of their late season games and surprised many by advancing to the second round of the 2004 NBA playoffs, nearly defeating the team with the league's best record, the Indiana Pacers, with Van Gundy's dynamic coaching showcasing the strong play of rookie Dwyane Wade.

During the off-season, Shaquille O'Neal demanded a trade and made Miami the only viable option for the Lakers to make a transaction with. Riley gave up Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and a future first-round draft choice, replacing three of the team's starters, including an Olympian, with O'Neal. Van Gundy led the Heat to the best record in the Eastern Conference in the first half of the season, becoming the first Heat coach to coach in the All-Star Game, where he led the East to a victory. The Heat finished the season with 59 wins, earning the best record in the conference. The Heat went on to advance to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to the Detroit Pistons. Injuries played a factor in their defeat, particularly a rib injury to leading scorer Wade during Game 5, which prevented him from playing Game 6 and severely hindered him in Game 7, both Piston wins.

During the 2005 off-season, it was widely speculated that Pat Riley was attempting to run Van Gundy out of his coaching job and take over the job himself, now that the team was in a position to contend for the championship.[10] Van Gundy would resign from his position as head coach on December 12, 2005, just 21 games into the season, citing a need to spend more time with his family. Riley replaced him as head coach, and led Miami to their first championship that same season.

In Shaquille O'Neal's book, "Shaq Uncut: My Story", O'Neal responded to allegations of being a "coach killer" and that he forced Van Gundy out of Miami by stating: "Stan got fired because Pat (Riley) wanted to take over, not because I wanted him out. I had no control over it — not a smidgen of control. We all kind of knew it was coming because Pat and Stan were always arguing. Pat would come down and tell Stan how to do something and Stan would want to do it his own way, and that was a fine game plan if you wanted to get yourself fired."[11]

Though at the time of his resignation Van Gundy asserted he was not being forced out by Riley, he has more recently declined comment on the situation after he accepted a coaching job with the Orlando Magic less than two years later.[12] Riley himself would resign from his coaching duties two years later, following a 15–67 season from the Heat.

Orlando Magic

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In May 2007, Van Gundy received an offer to replace the fired Rick Carlisle as head coach of the Indiana Pacers. Van Gundy turned down the offer, but began interviewing for other head coaching jobs. He was considered a lead candidate to become head coach of the Orlando Magic and also the Sacramento Kings. However, the Magic hired Billy Donovan. Shortly thereafter, Donovan decided he wanted to back out of the deal and return to the University of Florida. Finally on June 5, 2007, the Magic released Donovan and offered another contract to Van Gundy.[13] ESPN SportsCenter reported that the Miami Heat allowed Van Gundy to coach the Magic in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2007 and the right to swap first-round picks in 2008 or another 2008 second-round draft pick and cash.

Van Gundy coaching the Magic in 2010

In Van Gundy's first season with the Magic, he guided them to a 52-win season, earning the team's first division championship since the 1995–96 season, and the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. Orlando defeated the Toronto Raptors 4–1 in the first round of the playoffs, advancing to the Eastern Semifinals for the first time in twelve seasons. They were later defeated in the Eastern Semifinals by the Detroit Pistons 4–1.

Van Gundy and the Magic won 59 games in 2008–09, the second most in franchise history, along with a second consecutive division championship finished at third place behind Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. During playoffs, they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers from a deficit of 2–1, before squalling with Boston Celtics in seven games. Later, they defeated 66–16 Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals in six games to advance to the NBA Finals, Orlando's first Finals appearance since 1995. After suffering a blowout loss in game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Magic put up a better effort in game 2, but were defeated in overtime. In game 3, the Magic shot 63% for the game, a Finals record, en route to their first win in a Finals game in franchise history. They went on to lose the next two games, a controversial decision for allowing the four-month injury absence all-star, Jameer Nelson to play in heavy minutes and decided not fouling the opposite team in less than 30 second in game 4, that ultimately cost them the title as the Lakers won the series in five.[citation needed]

Also during the 2008–09 season, a feud developed between Van Gundy and the then Phoenix Suns' center, and former Magic/Heat player, Shaquille O'Neal (the two were together when O'Neal played for the Heat and Van Gundy was his coach). After a game between the Suns and Magic, Van Gundy said O'Neal was flopping throughout the night. O'Neal fired back by calling Van Gundy "a master of panic," because Van Gundy was not successful in the playoffs per O'Neal.[14]

On January 31, 2010, Van Gundy was named the coach of the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, making it the second time he had been given the honor to coach an all-star team. He led the Eastern Conference to victory for the second time.[15]

On May 21, 2012, Van Gundy was relieved of his duties as head coach.[16] Prior to the firing, Van Gundy had stated that he had knowledge that Dwight Howard wanted him fired. Van Gundy stated that a person within management had told him this, and that the team did not want to risk angering Howard (Howard had an opt-out clause in his contract).[17] Howard still requested a trade after the season,[citation needed] and was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in August 2012.[18]

Detroit Pistons

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On May 14, 2014, Van Gundy was hired as the new head coach and president of basketball operations of the Detroit Pistons, replacing interim head coach John Loyer.[2] On February 9, 2015, Van Gundy became the 43rd coach in NBA history to win 400 games when the Pistons defeated the Atlanta Hawks 105–95. He clinched a berth in the 2016 playoffs. On May 7, 2018, the Pistons announced that Van Gundy was released from his duties as head coach and president of basketball operations.[19]

New Orleans Pelicans

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On October 22, 2020, Van Gundy was hired as the new head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, replacing Alvin Gentry.[20] Van Gundy and the Pelicans parted ways on June 16, 2021.[21]

Personal life

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Van Gundy was born in Indio, California. He grew up as a son of a basketball coach, Bill Van Gundy, the former head coach at Brockport State University in Western New York. His younger brother Jeff Van Gundy has coached two teams in the NBA as well. After Jeff became a member of the NBA on ABC's broadcast team, he was an analyst during the 2009 NBA Finals while Stan coached the Orlando Magic. He returned to being an analyst in September 2018, working with ESPN (SVG Wednesday on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz). Van Gundy left ESPN in 2019 to work for Turner Sports. He would leave Turner after one season to become the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans but would return to Turner one year later after he parted ways with the Pelicans. He is also teaching a sports business course at Stetson University.

Van Gundy has four children with his late wife Kim, who died unexpectedly in August 2023. They were married for 25 years.[22] He revealed on a podcast that Kim died by suicide.[23][24]

Van Gundy is a frequent critic of former United States President Donald Trump and endorsed former United States Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 United States Presidential Election.

Head coaching record

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College

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Castleton Spartans (Mayflower Conference) (1983–1986)
1983–84 Castleton 26–2 8–0 1st
1984–85 Castleton 23–7 8–0 1st NAIA first round
1985–86 Castleton 19–9 4–2
Castleton: 68–18 (.791) 20–2
UMass Lowell River Hawks (New England Collegiate Conference) (1988–1992)
1988–89 UMass Lowell 16–13 9–5
1989–90 UMass Lowell 13–15 7–7
1990–91 UMass Lowell 11–17 5–9
1991–92 UMass Lowell 14–15 7–7
UMass Lowell: 54–60 (.474) 28–28
Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten Conference) (1994–1995)
1994–95 Wisconsin 13–14 7–11 9th
Wisconsin: 13–14 (.481) 7–11 (.389)
Total: 135–92 (.595)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

NBA

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Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Miami 2003–04 82 42 40 .512 2nd in Atlantic 13 6 7 .462 Lost in Conference semifinals
Miami 2004–05 82 59 23 .720 1st in Southeast 15 11 4 .733 Lost in Conference finals
Miami 2005–06 21 11 10 .524 (resigned) — — — — —
Orlando 2007–08 82 52 30 .634 1st in Southeast 10 5 5 .500 Lost in Conference semifinals
Orlando 2008–09 82 59 23 .720 1st in Southeast 24 13 11 .542 Lost in NBA Finals
Orlando 2009–10 82 59 23 .720 1st in Southeast 14 10 4 .714 Lost in Conference finals
Orlando 2010–11 82 52 30 .634 2nd in Southeast 6 2 4 .333 Lost in first round
Orlando 2011–12 66 37 29 .561 3rd in Southeast 5 1 4 .200 Lost in first round
Detroit 2014–15 82 32 50 .390 5th in Central — — — — Missed playoffs
Detroit 2015–16 82 44 38 .537 3rd in Central 4 0 4 .000 Lost in first round
Detroit 2016–17 82 37 45 .451 5th in Central — — — — Missed playoffs
Detroit 2017–18 82 39 43 .476 4th in Central — — — — Missed playoffs
New Orleans 2020–21 72 31 41 .431 4th in Southwest — — — — Missed playoffs
Career 979 554 425 .566 91 48 43 .527

References

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  1. ^ "Stan Van Gundy". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Detroit Pistons Name Stan Van Gundy Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d "Stan Van Gundy". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  4. ^ Wilde, Jason (October 27, 1993). "Van Gundy happy to be top assistant". The Milwaukee Sentinel.
  5. ^ "Monks named no. 1 for NAIA event". Bangor Daily News. February 25, 1985. p. 10.
  6. ^ "1985 Men's Basketball Team". Castleton Spartans. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  7. ^ Worthy, Lynn (May 8, 2009). "Stan Van Gundy remembers Leo and the gang at Lowell". Lowell Sun. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  8. ^ "Van Gundy's First Season Proves To Be Last". Chicago Tribune. March 15, 1995. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  9. ^ Berkow, Ira (April 20, 1997). "From a Scouting Assignment at Age 10, Van Gundy Has Risen to the Top". The New York Times. p. C1. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  10. ^ "Heat coach Van Gundy resigns; Riley returns". ESPN. December 12, 2005. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  11. ^ O'Neal, S.; MacMullan, J. (2011). Shaq Uncut: My Story. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 9781455504428. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  12. ^ "Orlando Magic: Shaquille O'Neal says blame Pat Riley for Stan Van Gundy's Miami exit - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  13. ^ "Reports: Donovan Almost Out, Van Gundy Almost In for Magic". NBA.com. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
  14. ^ "Shaq rips Van Gundy for flop comment". ESPN. March 5, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  15. ^ "Van Gundy to Serve as East All-Star Coach". Nba.com. January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  16. ^ "Van Gundy Relieved of Duties; Smith and Magic Mutually Agree To Part Ways". Nba.com. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  17. ^ "Orlando Magic's Stan Van Gundy – Dwight Howard wants me fired". Espn.go.com. April 6, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  18. ^ "Howard blockbuster trade to Lakers finalized". August 10, 2012.
  19. ^ Ellis, Vince (May 7, 2018). "Detroit Pistons part ways with Stan Van Gundy, seek new direction". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  20. ^ "Pelicans name Stan Van Gundy head coach". NBA.com. October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  21. ^ "New Orleans Pelicans and Stan Van Gundy mutually agree to part ways". NBA.com. June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  22. ^ Cote, Greg (August 23, 2023). "Former NBA coach, TV analyst Stan Van Gundy mourning unexpected death of Kim, his wife of 25 years". Miami Herald.
  23. ^ "Stan Van Gundy reveals cause of wife's death". ESPN.com. May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  24. ^ "Stan Van Gundy reveals wife's cause of death was suicide: 'I'll never ... get over that'". Detroit Free Press. May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
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