The New Orleans Pelicans hired Former Heat, Magic & Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy as their new head coach on Wednesday morning, Van Gundy confirmed the news on his Twitter.
Van Gundy, 61, last coached in NBA during 2017-18 season when he concluded a four-year stint with the Detroit Pistons. He sports a 523–384 career record across 12 seasons, including five years with the Magic.
Van Gundy’s time in Orlando featured the most successful stretch of his career, which included five straight playoff appearances and one trip to the NBA Finals with Dwight Howard. He also was previously the head coach of the Miami Heat for three seasons.
“I’m excited to join a talented New Orleans Pelicans team,” Van Gundy tweeted on Wednesday morning after ESPN’s Woj broke the news. “It will be an honor to work with our players and to work for Mrs. Benson and David Griffin, Trajan Langdon, their staff and the great people of New Orleans. I can’t wait to talk to our players and get the process started.”
According ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski , “Pelicans were sold on SVG’s abilities as a teacher with a young roster, his history of building top defensive teams and his vision for the roster in place. His personnel decisions in Detroit was a non-factor in search; he’s coming to coach.”
New Orleans finished No. 13 in the Western Conference in 2019-20 at 30–42. The Pelicans made one playoff appearance in the last five seasons under coach Alvin Gentry, but they enter 2020-21 stocked with young talent. 2019 No. 1 pick Zion Williamson will look to build on his rookie season, while fellow Duke product Brandon Ingram will look to continue his growth as a lead option.
