Stan Van Gundy

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 at the University of Vermont (1981–83), then was head coach at Castleton State College (1983–86), where he was named NAIA District 5 Coach of the Year after his first season. After assistant stints at Canisius College (1987) and Fordham University (1988), he became head coach at the University of Lowell (later UMass Lowell), compiling a 54–60 record over four seasons. He then became an assistant at Wisconsin under Stu Jackson, and was promoted to head coach when Jackson left. After a 13–14 season, Van Gundy was fired. Overall, he compiled a 135–92 record in eight years as a college head coach. With the Miami Heat, he was an assistant under Pat Riley before becoming head coach in 2003–04, leading the team to a 42-win season and a second-round playoff appearance. In 2004–05, the Heat won 59 games and reached the Eastern Conference Finals. He resigned 21 games into the 2005–06 season, citing family reasons. He then coached the Orlando Magic from 2007 to 2012, leading them to the 2009 NBA Finals.

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with tension as the fourth quarter wound down. On the bench, Stan Van Gundy stood motionless, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, eyes scanning the court for any lapse in defensive rotation. The scoreboard showed a two-point deficit with thirty seconds remaining. He didn't yell; he simply pointed to the floor, signaling a specific trap on the wing. Dwight Howard nodded, understanding instantly. As the opposing guard drove, the Magic collapsed like a well-oiled machine, forcing a turnover that led to a game-winning layup by Vince Carter. Van Gundy exhaled slowly, the weight of another hard-fought victory settling in his shoulders.

Reader's Guide

Van Gundy's tenure with the Orlando Magic began in June 2007 after Billy Donovan backed out of a deal. In his first season, he guided the Magic to a 52-win season and their first division championship since 1995–96. They defeated the Toronto Raptors 4–1 in the first round but lost to the Detroit Pistons 4–1 in the Eastern Semifinals. In 2008–09, the Magic won 59 games, a second consecutive division title, and advanced to the NBA Finals after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, and Cleveland Cavaliers. They lost the Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. During the 2008–09 season, a feud developed between Van Gundy and Shaquille O'Neal.

Did You Know?

• Van Gundy was named to coach the Eastern Conference All-Star team in 2005, becoming the first Heat coach to do so.
• He led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals, their first Finals appearance since 1995.
• Van Gundy's brother Jeff is a former head coach of the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.