By DavidKaye
After Billy Donovan bolted from his obligation as Magic head coach last week, General Manager Otis Smith had a vacancy to fill.
He thought that he found the perfect guy in Donovan who guided the Florida Gators to back-to-back national championships and established the basketball program as a power house among all NCAA teams. Unfortunately, Donovan had a change of heart and returned to Gainsville.
Luckily, Smith would not have to leave the state of Florida to find the right guy to lead an up and coming young group of players. Former Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy was targeted by many teams including the Sacramento Kings, but felt that he had the best opportunity to succeed with the Magic.
When you have a budding superstar like Dwight Howard and an organization that is determined to bring a winning ball club to the city of Orlando, who would not want to become the ninth head coach in team history?
The one attribute that made Van Gundy so desirable by many teams is his winning track record and knowledge of the game. During eight seasons as a college head coach, including three at the University of Wisconsin he compiled a record of 135-92.
His next challenge in life would be tackling the NBA and he found the perfect fit with the Miami Heat. He spent twelve fantastic years in the Heat organization, including six as an assistant and two plus seasons manning the sidelines.
Van Gundy took a struggling franchise to new heights during his coaching tenure, recording a regular season record of 112-73 and a postseason record of 17-11. After acquiring all-star Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 Van Gundy coached the team to a 59-23 record. They eventually were eliminated by the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals, but the mark he left on the team was staggering.
He was Dwayne Wade's first head coach and has shaped the superstar into the player he has evolved into today. Most importantly he set a benchmark for success that the Heat still follow today. The countless hours he spent going over film to improve the team's level of play was an integral part of why Miami was able to capture their first NBA title in 2006.
Many times in sports one manager or coach lays down the winning formula and foundation for success, only to see his successor lead the team to the championship game. That was the case with Pat Riley who lead the Heat to the NBA finals due in large part to the work of Stan Van Gundy.
The Orlando Magic hired an exceptional coach and great person in Van Gundy who will elevate the club to new heights.
No comments:
Post a Comment