Houston Rockets has decided to part ways with head coach Jeff
Van Gundy on Friday, according to the Rockets acting general
manager Daryl Morey.
The Rockets went 52-30 this season but lost to Utah Jazz in
seven games in the first round playoffs and it was the third first
round loss in four season under Van Gundy.
Van Gundy had one non-guaranteed year left on his contract,
meaning that the Rockets held the option to retain him. A recent
report says that the Rockets has held a talk to 60-year-old Rick
Adelman, the former coach of Sacramento, Golden State and
Portland.
Morey said that the two sides were unable to come to an
agreement despite a prolonged negotiating period in which Van Gundy
requested and was offered the opportunity to stay within the
organization in a senior consultant capacity. The team will now
continue forward with plans to hire a new head coach.
"First and foremost, we want to thank Jeff for his tireless
efforts here with the team over the past four seasons," said
Morey," Jeff built the team into a top defensive club and played a
crucial part in helping mold this team into a playoff
contender."
"Since the end of the post-season, we have had numerous
conversations with Jeff about his interest in proceeding as the
head coach. He asked for, and was granted, additional time to
evaluate his situation with the agreement that we would begin
looking into other candidates. During that process it became clear
that Jeff did not want to continue in any capacity with the team
other than as head coach," added Morey.
Van Gundy guided Houston to a 182-146 (.555) record. He also led
the Rockets to the playoffs three times (2004, 2005, 2007).
Overall, Van Gundy holds a career coaching record of 430-318
(.575), as well as a 44-44 (.500) mark in the postseason.
(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2007)