Stan Van Gundy

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Lore & Background

Van Gundy was a starting guard at Alhambra High School in Martinez, California. He 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. He 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. After his first season as Castleton head coach, the NAIA named Van Gundy the District 5 Coach of the Year. He later served as head coach at the University of Lowell (now UMass Lowell) for four seasons, compiling a record of 54–60. He then became an assistant at the University of Wisconsin under Stu Jackson, and was promoted to head coach when Jackson left. After a 13–14 record, Van Gundy was fired at the end of the season. Overall, he compiled a record of 135–92 in eight years as a college head coach. Van Gundy spent 12 years with the Miami Heat, first as an assistant under Pat Riley, then as head coach from 2003 to 2005. He resigned on December 12, 2005, citing a need to spend more time with his family. Riley replaced him and led Miami to their first championship that same season. Van Gundy then coached the Orlando Magic from 2007 to 2012, leading them to the 2009 NBA Finals, which they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights hummed with a low buzz as the opposing coach paced the sideline, clipboard in hand, eyes scanning the hardwood for any lapse in discipline. It wasn't a Cavaliers game, but the intensity was familiar to every fan who had watched Cleveland struggle against his system. The roar of the crowd faded into a tactical silence; this was chess at 100 miles per hour, where every rotation was calculated and every defensive switch was a trap waiting to spring.

Reader's Guide

Stan Van Gundy is known for his intense coaching style and defensive schemes. He led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals. He has worked as a television commentator for CBS Sports and Amazon Prime Video, and previously for TNT.

Did You Know?

• Van Gundy was named NAIA District 5 Coach of the Year after his first season as head coach at Castleton State College.
• He coached the Miami Heat to the best record in the Eastern Conference in the 2004–05 season and coached the East to a victory in the All-Star Game.
• Van Gundy's brother Jeff Van Gundy is a former head coach of the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.