• Riley replaces Van Gundy as Heat coach Riley replaces Van Gundy as Heat coach MIAMI — Pat Riley and Stan Van Gundy walked off the dais together Monday, then went in opposite directions. Riley packed his tailored suits and
• Riley replaces Van Gundy as Heat coach
Riley replaces Van Gundy as Heat coach
MIAMI — Pat Riley and Stan Van Gundy walked off the dais together Monday, then went in opposite directions.
Riley packed his tailored suits and headed back to the NBA sidelines, looking to add another entry to his long and glowing coaching resume. Van Gundy simply went home.
Months after he said he wanted to reclaim more of a hands-on role with the team — a comment that prompted rampant speculation he was about to fire his former protege — Riley returned to the business of coaching. Van Gundy quit to spend more time with his family, and will stay with the team in a limited capacity.
“I was happy for him when I hired him 11 years ago,” Riley said. “I was happy for him when I stepped aside and gave him an opportunity that was well-deserved. And I am happy for him today, absolutely.”
The 60-year-old Riley said he hasn’t looked at a playbook in two years. He’s probably doing that right now for tonight’s game in Chicago.
Riley said he spent the last six weeks trying to persuade Van Gundy to stay.
Van Gundy has always professed to being a family-first man, someone who abhors road trips and the idea of spending holidays away from his wife and four children. He said that because of travel, games and practices, he would have seen his children at home only 49 days out of 170 this season.
“That’s just not enough any more for me. It’s just not enough,” Van Gundy said. “I mean, it’s been like that for my kids’ entire lives. I’ve got a 14-year-old daughter and it started to hit me when I started thinking about her birthday, which was last month. I’ve got four more years left with her. Four. And then she’ll be off to college and I’m just not willing to sacrifice any more of those four more years.”
KSA spring coaches’ meeting tonight
Officials with the Kaua’i Soccer Association (KSA) announced that the KSA spring season coaches’ meeting will be held tonight at the Lihu’e Neighborhood Center starting at 7 p.m. Coaches’ packets will be distributed and explained.
The KSA spring season will start Feb. 18.
Grady leads Team Swish to 44-28 victory
Janessa Grady and Kathleen Cadiente combined for 22 of Team Swish’s 44 points in their 44-28 win over Wailua, Saturday at the county’s 14 and Under girls basketball league.
Grady ended with 13 points and Cadiente added nine markers. Victoria Tuttle finished with a game-high 14 points in the Wailua effort with Lynsi Nakamura adding 10 points.
Gee’s Angels took the win in the early game by forfeit by Island School.
Weekday games in the league are played at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center on Mondays and Wednesdays with Saturday games played at the Kaua’i High School gym.
