<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">At the very moment that Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami, a lot of people started thinking the same thing: How long would Pat Riley stay away from coaching the Heat again, now that the league's most dominant big man patrols the middle? So for Stan Van Gundy, the Heat's successful first-year coach last season, the clock begins ticking, because it may not be long before Pat Riley is back on the sidelines again. Van Gundy accomplished a lot last season, going from 0-7 to 42-40 and his team's first playoff berth in three years. But until last year, Van Gundy was a career NBA assistant. Remember, Riley even attempted to see if he could coach Shaq as Laker. "I do think that (the opportunity to coach Shaq) was what sort of led me to my little sojourn to Los Angeles," Riley says of his June meeting with Lakers' management. "The day I knew that we were going to get Shaquille O'Neal is the day that I said to myself, 'Now I'm really glad that I can sit in this chair and observe and really enjoy watching,' " he says. "Would I have loved to coach Shaquille sometime when I was coaching? It would have been a blessing." Riley insists he wants to remain in the front office. But that might change. "Now I get to be president of a team, with Shaquille here, allowing a young coach to develop with him, just like I did with Kareem," he says. "I think he's going to help Stan tremendously." "Pat has never said anything about that to me," Van Gundy says, "and I've never brought it up to him."</div> <div align="center">Link</div>
I was reading that article but I never found where it hinted he might return to coach. Theres this <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Remember, Riley even attempted to see if he could coach Shaq as Laker</div> but there's a lot of stuff that dismisses the thought that he might return
I really don't think Riley will ever return to caoching. he's content with his position as president and loves it there. More authority and importance etc... plus SVG is a developing great coach who'll do well with Shaq.
I thought Van Gundy did a good job last season and he deserves to coach this team as it is...Riley would be "selling out" (maybe poor choice of words) by not wanting to coach a team he thought wouldnt be successful and then coming back to a team fully loaded...hes done a nice job in the front office so far and Van Gundy has done a stellar job on the sidelines as well...
I don't think Riley would be an ------- as to put van gundy back to assistant coach and come back and coach the Heat, but if Van Gundy fails to win a championship (in 2 years) maybe Riley would be the best person to come back and coach this team. Van Gundy deserves a chance seeing as he took this team far from it's expectations and managed to win twice against Indiana in the confrence semi-finals when everyone thought they would be swept, let alone make it to the playoffs and win above .500, so imagine what he could do with a team of a higher caliber like we have this year. Plus I don't think Shaq would've considered going to the Heat had it not been for what they did last season so it's good that he will be coaching. Anyways dunno if you guys heard (somewhat old) but here's a Mike and Mike ESPN Radio clip of Van Gundy discussing the new playbook for this season and discussing the same things going around like 'can he make this team a championship team' or will he be fired if he can't produce results. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Mike and Mike: Heat coach Stan Van Gundy says the playbook will be reworked. There will be plenty of calls for the low post.</div>Link
I hope Gundy remains the coach. I have so much admiration for Riley and what he did for the Laker Organization. I would really make him look bad if he bumped Gundy just to coach Shaq. Gundy has done a great job so far, so he deserves the chance to coach Miami
