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10-24-2003, 03:00 PM

Friday, October 24, 2003

Associated Press
MIAMI -- Pat Riley resigned as coach of the Miami Heat on Friday, saying the team's rebuilding process is on track enough for him to step aside.

Riley ranks second in NBA history with 1,110 victories, and he led the Los Angeles Lakers to four championships in the 1980s. But the Heat missed the playoffs the past two years, finishing last in the Atlantic Division at 25-57 last season.

He will be replaced as Miami's coach by Stan Van Gundy, his top assistant the past several seasons.

"It's the first time I feel it's right in the last three years," Riley said. "It's right for me to. It's time."

The move is not health-related, Riley said, adding that he made the decision Wednesday.

He will stay on as the Heat's president.

Riley, 58, was voted one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history in 1996.

His 21 seasons running NBA teams include from 1981-90 with the Lakers, 1991-95 with the New York Knicks and 1995-03 with Miami. He was the NBA's Coach of the Year in 1990, 1993 and 1997.

Riley led the "Showtime" Lakers of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 league titles. With the Knicks, he had more of a defense-oriented, bruising team that lost to Houston in the 1994 NBA Finals.

With the Heat, though, Riley never duplicated that sort of success. His Miami teams lost in the first round of the playoffs four times, and only made it as far as the Eastern Conference finals once, losing to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in 1997.

**SG_Fred** · 10-24-2003, 03:02 PM

I thought it was very stupid for him to wait until the season is about to start. He should have done it in the offseason so they could get a coach.

**'Sider** · 10-24-2003, 03:06 PM

Yea, that was very unprofessional, unless they are just now releasing it to the media and already and have had a replacement in mind for a while now.

He USED to be one hell of a coach, almost like the Denny Crum of NBA

10-24-2003, 03:20 PM

I heard on CNN that he made the decision a couple of days ago.... I guess he's not concerned whit how this may negatively affect the team's preparation for the season.

DTownDave22 · 10-24-2003, 10:30 PM

I really don't know, I think there could possibly be some deeper issues here, and I wonder if the absence of Alonzo Mourning has anything to do with it....I think it may have a LITTLE bit...but I don't know why he'd wait so LATE....They must have had a coach in mind, and Riley must think Stan can do a sufficient job..

10-24-2003, 03:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
RAC Posts: n/a vCash:	Riley Steps down.... Friday, October 24, 2003 Associated Press MIAMI -- Pat Riley resigned as coach of the Miami Heat on Friday, saying the team's rebuilding process is on track enough for him to step aside. Riley ranks second in NBA history with 1,110 victories, and he led the Los Angeles Lakers to four championships in the 1980s. But the Heat missed the playoffs the past two years, finishing last in the Atlantic Division at 25-57 last season. He will be replaced as Miami's coach by Stan Van Gundy, his top assistant the past several seasons. "It's the first time I feel it's right in the last three years," Riley said. "It's right for me to. It's time." The move is not health-related, Riley said, adding that he made the decision Wednesday. He will stay on as the Heat's president. Riley, 58, was voted one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history in 1996. His 21 seasons running NBA teams include from 1981-90 with the Lakers, 1991-95 with the New York Knicks and 1995-03 with Miami. He was the NBA's Coach of the Year in 1990, 1993 and 1997. Riley led the "Showtime" Lakers of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 league titles. With the Knicks, he had more of a defense-oriented, bruising team that lost to Houston in the 1994 NBA Finals. With the Heat, though, Riley never duplicated that sort of success. His Miami teams lost in the first round of the playoffs four times, and only made it as far as the Eastern Conference finals once, losing to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in 1997.

10-24-2003, 03:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
SG_Fred Community Manager Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 37,935 vCash: 17674 GamerTag: fredsmooth21	I thought it was very stupid for him to wait until the season is about to start. He should have done it in the offseason so they could get a coach. __________________

10-24-2003, 10:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
DTownDave22 Formerly known as: JoeyHarrington3 Bench Warmer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Riverview, Michigan Posts: 804 vCash: 600	I really don't know, I think there could possibly be some deeper issues here, and I wonder if the absence of Alonzo Mourning has anything to do with it....I think it may have a LITTLE bit...but I don't know why he'd wait so LATE....They must have had a coach in mind, and Riley must think Stan can do a sufficient job.. __________________ The original masked man AIM sn=DJBucs2005

10-24-2003, 03:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
'Sider Pass first, dodge ?'s last Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 14,460 vCash: 1742 GamerTag: Outsider9573	Yea, that was very unprofessional, unless they are just now releasing it to the media and already and have had a replacement in mind for a while now. He USED to be one hell of a coach, almost like the Denny Crum of NBA

10-24-2003, 03:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
RAC Posts: n/a vCash:	I heard on CNN that he made the decision a couple of days ago.... I guess he's not concerned whit how this may negatively affect the team's preparation for the season.

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