Riley steps down as coach of the Heat
October 24, 2003, at 03:11 PM ET
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Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Pat Riley announced during a Friday press conference that he is stepping down as head coach of the Miami Heat. However, Riley will remain president of the organization.
Stan Van Gundy will take over the head coaching duties. Van Gundy served as Riley's assistant for the past six seasons.
"There's never a good time for this, but there is a time and I feel that the time is right because this team is headed in another direction," said Riley. "It's turned around. It's fresh. It needs another voice. I believe that. There is no other motive to it. I am happy for Stan. I think Stan is going to do a great job. It's time for me to move upstairs and do my job as a president." The 58-year-old Riley had been the head coach of the Heat for the last eight seasons. During that time, he posted a 354-270 record and guided Miami to four consecutive Atlantic Division titles from 1996-2000.
However, the Heat have not qualified for the playoffs the past two seasons and finished the 2002-03 campaign with just 25 wins.
In 21 seasons as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Heat, Riley has compiled a record of 1,110-569. His victory total trails only Lenny Wilkens on the NBA's all-time list. Riley has been honored as the NBA Coach of the Year on three occasions and his string of 19 straight postseason berths from 1982-2001 is a league record for consecutive appearances.
Riley spent four years as coach of New York and led the Knicks to four straight winning seasons, four consecutive playoff berths and a 223-105 mark.
The highlight of his stint with the Knicks was leading them to the 1994 NBA Finals.
Before heading New York, Riley was head coach of the Lakers for nine years and guided the team to four NBA titles and three other NBA Finals appearances.
After taking over for Paul Westhead 11 games into the 1981-82 season, Riley led the Lakers to the NBA championship.
Van Gundy came to the Heat after serving as head coach at the University of Wisconsin. Prior to his tenure with the Badgers, he was an assistant at Wisconsin under current NBA Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson.
Van Gundy started his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Vermont from 1981-83 and was then the head coach at Castleton State College for three seasons.
Following assistant coaching stints at Canisius College in 1987 and Fordham University in 1988, he was named head coach at Massachusetts-Lowell and spent four campaigns there before being hired at Wisconsin. Van Gundy compiled a record of 135-92 in eight years as a college head coach.
"We have to learn how to win, then we can be very exciting because we are athletic and we're versatile," said Van Gundy. "But until that day comes that excitement will not be there."
October 24, 2003, at 03:11 PM ET
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Pat Riley announced during a Friday press conference that he is stepping down as head coach of the Miami Heat. However, Riley will remain president of the organization.
Stan Van Gundy will take over the head coaching duties. Van Gundy served as Riley's assistant for the past six seasons.
"There's never a good time for this, but there is a time and I feel that the time is right because this team is headed in another direction," said Riley. "It's turned around. It's fresh. It needs another voice. I believe that. There is no other motive to it. I am happy for Stan. I think Stan is going to do a great job. It's time for me to move upstairs and do my job as a president." The 58-year-old Riley had been the head coach of the Heat for the last eight seasons. During that time, he posted a 354-270 record and guided Miami to four consecutive Atlantic Division titles from 1996-2000.
However, the Heat have not qualified for the playoffs the past two seasons and finished the 2002-03 campaign with just 25 wins.
In 21 seasons as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Heat, Riley has compiled a record of 1,110-569. His victory total trails only Lenny Wilkens on the NBA's all-time list. Riley has been honored as the NBA Coach of the Year on three occasions and his string of 19 straight postseason berths from 1982-2001 is a league record for consecutive appearances.
Riley spent four years as coach of New York and led the Knicks to four straight winning seasons, four consecutive playoff berths and a 223-105 mark.
The highlight of his stint with the Knicks was leading them to the 1994 NBA Finals.
Before heading New York, Riley was head coach of the Lakers for nine years and guided the team to four NBA titles and three other NBA Finals appearances.
After taking over for Paul Westhead 11 games into the 1981-82 season, Riley led the Lakers to the NBA championship.
Van Gundy came to the Heat after serving as head coach at the University of Wisconsin. Prior to his tenure with the Badgers, he was an assistant at Wisconsin under current NBA Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson.
Van Gundy started his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Vermont from 1981-83 and was then the head coach at Castleton State College for three seasons.
Following assistant coaching stints at Canisius College in 1987 and Fordham University in 1988, he was named head coach at Massachusetts-Lowell and spent four campaigns there before being hired at Wisconsin. Van Gundy compiled a record of 135-92 in eight years as a college head coach.
"We have to learn how to win, then we can be very exciting because we are athletic and we're versatile," said Van Gundy. "But until that day comes that excitement will not be there."
