NBA

With Van Gundy gone, Riley to clean up Heat 'mess'

One coach leaves to spend time with his family, another returns to try to make a roster he created jell.

By wire services
Published December 13, 2005

MIAMI - In a bold but not surprising move, Pat Riley left the Miami Heat front office Monday to replace coach Stan Van Gundy, who resigned 21 games into the season citing his desire to spend more time with his family.

Riley, the team president and former coach, said in June that he wanted to take a more "active participation" in the team, sparking speculation he would replace Van Gundy. One month later, he met with Van Gundy and publicly denied he wanted to do so.

Now, six weeks into a disappointing 11-10 season in which Shaquille O'Neal sprained his right ankle in the second game and missed the next 18, the Heat has undergone a major change. The window for winning a championship is closing, with O'Neal, 33, showing his physical vulnerability.

"The team's a mess," Riley said in a subdued tone at a news conference. And with that, Riley, 60, who won four championships with the Lakers, wasted little time asserting his authority.

"I don't want to make any excuses - injuries are part of the game. But, saying that, I do believe that this team is going to have to make a decision whether they want to be part of greatness. This isn't about winning a championship. That's just a symbol. Players who care want to be part of great teams."

Van Gundy's resignation and Riley's return open a new chapter for Miami. Riley, who was Van Gundy's mentor in Miami, resigned to be the team president four days before before the 2003-04 season. Van Gundy, who was his top assistant, guided the Heat to a 112-73 record in a little more than two seasons. He fell short of making the NBA Finals last season, O'Neal's first with the team.

Monday, a day after O'Neal returned to help spark an overtime victory over Washington, Van Gundy said he had been thinking for six weeks that the pain of being away from his four children and his wife, Kim, was too much to take.

"It's the best job in the world, professionally, but it comes with a price, personally," Van Gundy said. "It got to the point to be literally painful. I'm not willing to do that anymore.

"The timing of this whole thing really stinks. We're 21 games into the year, and it really puts Pat in a tough position."

Van Gundy was adamant that he was told to resign.

"I don't think anyone up here thinks I'm getting forced out," he said. "If so, I would have gotten every dollar on my contract and walked out the door."

After taking three weeks off, Van Gundy will return in an advisory role on the team.

After the Heat lost to Detroit in Game 7 of the Eastern final last season, with an ailing Dwyane Wade taking most of the big shots, O'Neal questioned some of Van Gundy's play-calling, wondering why he did not get the ball more at crucial times.

Riley's response was to bring in several high-profile players in the off-season, and in doing so he may have made Van Gundy's job more difficult. In an unprecedented five-team trade, Riley sent Eddie Jones to Memphis for Jason Williams and forward James Posey, and also received Antoine Walker from Boston. Gary Payton arrived via free agency. Though Williams has been sidelined with a knee injury, Van Gundy was effectively being asked to blend players who were accustomed to having the ball in their hands.

Van Gundy said Monday that he spoke to Riley after the first game of the season about wanting to spend more time with his children. He acknowledged, too, that his brother Jeff also resigned from a job citing family reasons. Jeff Van Gundy, who now coaches the Rockets, left the Knicks on Dec.8, 2001, with a 10-9 record. He took over Houston two seasons later.

At one point in the news conference Riley's eyes welled with tears when he spoke of Van Gundy's contributions to the team. Riley insisted that he tried to talk Van Gundy out of resigning and that it had not been his intention to coach.

"For six weeks, I tried to convince him to stay on, period," he said. "I don't like change, I don't like a lack of continuity. I think he was the best man for the job."

[Last modified December 13, 2005, 01:31:15]