Jeff Van Gundy

From coaching the Knicks and Rockets to winning a 2024 NBA title as a Celtics consultant, Jeff Van Gundy now serves as lead assistant for the Clippers.

Jeffrey William Van Gundy (born January 19, 1962) is an American basketball coach and former commentator who is the lead assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Van Gundy previously served as head coach in the NBA for the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets. During his tenure with the Knicks, he led the team to the 1999 NBA Finals, where they ultimately fell to the San Antonio Spurs in five games. Van Gundy won an NBA championship in 2024 with the Boston Celtics, where he served as a senior consultant in the front office.

Quick Facts

Team

Los Angeles Clippers

Position

Lead assistant coach

League

NBA

Born

19 January 1962

Birthplace

Hemet, California, U.S.

High school

Brockport (Brockport, New York)

College

Menlo (1981–1982)
Brockport (1982–1983)
Nazareth (NY) (1983–1985)

Career position

Point guard

Lore & Background

Van Gundy was born in Hemet, California, and lived in Martinez, California until 1977. His family moved to Brockport, New York, while Van Gundy was still in high school, and he attended and played basketball at Brockport High School. He is the son of basketball coach Bill Van Gundy and the younger brother of former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy. As a high school point guard, Van Gundy was a two-time All Greater Rochester selection in 1979 and 1980, leading Brockport to the Class AA finals. Van Gundy attended Yale University before transferring to Menlo College, and ultimately graduating from New York's Nazareth University in 1985. At Nazareth, Van Gundy led the Golden Flyers to an NCAA Division III tournament berth in 1984. He remains the Nazareth career leader in free throw percentage, at 86.8%.

Reader's Guide

Van Gundy began his coaching career at McQuaid Jesuit High School in 1985–86. He then became a graduate assistant under Rick Pitino at Providence College, helping the Friars advance to the Final Four. He was promoted to assistant coach under Gordon Chiesa, then became an assistant coach under Bob Wenzel at Rutgers. On July 28, 1989, he became an assistant coach for the New York Knicks, serving under Stu Jackson, John MacLeod, Pat Riley, and Don Nelson.

On March 8, 1996, the Knicks named Van Gundy head coach. He led the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals as an eighth seed, losing to the Spurs in five games. He resigned 19 games into the 2001–02 season. On June 10, 2003, he was named head coach of the Houston Rockets, replacing Rudy Tomjanovich.

He led the Rockets to playoff appearances in 2004, 2005, and 2007, but was fired after a first-round loss to the Utah Jazz in 2007. In July 2017, he became head coach of the senior United States national team, guiding them to gold at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup and qualification for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. On October 14, 2023, the Boston Celtics announced Van Gundy had joined the team as a senior consultant to basketball operations. The Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, giving Van Gundy his first NBA Championship. On June 18, 2024, the Los Angeles Clippers hired Van Gundy as lead assistant under Tyronn Lue.

Did You Know?

Van Gundy was fined $100,000 by the NBA in May 2005 for accusing referees of targeting Yao Ming, the largest fine ever handed down to a coach.
He was involved in a memorable scene during the 1998 playoffs when he clung to Alonzo Mourning's leg during a brawl.