It's All in the Family: Why Stan Van Gundy stepped down

I have been reserving this write up for a couple of reasons - I wanted to see how things played out and what the consequences would be. Having done that, I think it is fair to say that the press conference announcing why Stan Van Gundy stepped down was legit. The reasons why Stan Van Gundy stepped down, that his personal life was calling to him, are definetly true. And strangely, this is not without precedent - even with the Van Gundy family.

But the question remains, why now? Why would a man who has worked tirelessly and endlessly to reach the pinnacle of his profession just decide to call it quits?

Stan Van Gundy has been an assistant to Pat Riley for 11 years - but that only begins to tell the story. His brother, Jeff, another long time Riley assistant was able to parlay his assistantship into a head coaching gig once Riley left and even matched up against his mentor in those famous Knick/Heat rivalries. With all the success that Jeff Van Gundy was able to achieve as a coaches' coach, it seems the reason why he left may have also been foreshadowing what his brother would eventually face.

Jeff Van Gundy quit as head coach very abruptly. His reasons? As coach, he claimed, he was losing his focus. "I didn't feel my focus was at its best. I didn't want to hurt our team. I certainly don't regret the effort I put forth. I just think it's time to step back and let the team move on."

But what is even more telling is this, what Jeff Van Gundy said next, "I'm going to step back and exhale for the first time in 13 years. When I told my daughter today, she said: 'Does this mean you get to have lunch with me?' So that's cool."

Sound familiar?

Just like when his brother Jeff stepped down in NY, Stan has been mulling this decision since the offseason. Even Stan himself said that in the offseason, everything is fine since he got to see his family more regularly. Remarkably, the sound bite Stan Van Gundy gave was eerily similar to what his brother said just a few years before, "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."

Is family simply the reason? It seems improbable that two brothers, raised by a basketball coaching father, would be unaware of the impact their chosen profession would have on their lives. Perhaps they weren't totally conscious of the impact, but nonetheless, they had an idea. Their amibitions pushed them onwards towards their rewards of a head coaching position for a professional basketball franchise. And the brothers Van Gundy were damned good at what they did.

The problem wasn't with themselves or their personal lives, it was with the people they were working worth. Most specifically, the players.

When Jeff Van Gundy stepped down, he tried to take all the blame - that the team underperforming was his fault. That somehow, he was getting frantic and losing his focus. He was trying to save face for the Knicks, who had a lousy team put together with a generally lousy attitude. Perhaps the players started to tune Jeff Van Gundy out.

Dr. Jack Ramsay, one time Heat commentator and Hall of Fame coach, had this to say about Jeff Van Gundy's sudden resignation:

"The players hold Van Gundy in high regard. In fact, I've never heard one of his players criticize him -- they've always spoken very highly of him. I'm not sure there isn't more to this than just the day-to-day toll that affects every coach. Jeff is a perfectionist and I don't think he'd resign unless there was some additional pressure. He may have felt he wasn't getting the support or cooperation from management."

It was the pressure of the people he was working with that forced Jeff Van Gundy out. Perhaps he felt his methods were not being taken seriously enough and that he was being tuned out somehow. Seeing as Jeff Van Gundy is a perfectionist, it is not surprising that something like that would take a toll personally on him and force him into his ultimate decision.

There is evidence that supports a similar scenario for Stan, too. Although, it wouldn't be management but the players themselves that may have been putting the pressure on Stan Van Gundy. All this added pressure, the feeling of not being respected or listened to, made him think about the apparent sacrifice he was making at the expense of his family - for the sake of his career, which was starting to turn more and more sour for him.

The evidence is as plain as that trademark Shaq sheepish grin. It was the Diesel who has been quoted as saying this in a recent article:

"The only adjustment that the guys are going to make is they're going to really, really listen now, because of his resume. I've been in this situation before, where you do a lot of stuff and then they bring (in) somebody who knows what he's talking about and everybody listens. It's a different locker room. Guys are listening. Nobody really..."

Guys are going to listen now. Now? I guess it is no coincendence that as soon as Riley took over, Gary Payton's production has stepped up. The same Gary Payton who was only 'professionally' disagreeing with Stan Van Gundy a month back about offensive philosophy.

That Stan Van Gundy decided to step down due to personal reasons should not be in doubt. As always, Van Gundy kept his views honest and made them public without any fear whatsoever. As a coach, he was no different. But the blame must be cast on the veteran leadership of this team. If in fact they had tuned Stan Van Gundy out to the point that it forced him to retire (since Stan saw that he wasn't reaching the players and it was his duty to do so) then shame on them. They certainly weren't endorsing him with their silence.

But they should also know, that you get what you wish for. And the vengeance of Pat Riley will not be mild. This team has many problems that need to be cleared up and Van Gundy is absolved of any and all blame. In fact, Riley has made it clear that no quarter will be taken for players who denounce or speak out in any way against Stan.

And for the first time in a long time, it seems Pat Riley is truly incensed. If these players and this team are truly desiring a championship, there will be hell to pay. Riley will play the devil himself.

Meanwhile, quietly in the background, Stan Van Gundy will sit and watch. Ever loyal to his family. Ever loyal to his mentor. Ever loyal to this organization. It truly was Riley's wish to have Stan steward this ship onto land and down Biscayne in the form of a victory parade.

But this time, he will have to do it himself. The players know not what has befallen them.