IFWT_Jeff VanGundy

Being the head coach of the New York Knicks is no easy task.  The media in New York is harsher than most (not homers), the fans are overly expectant and the scrutiny is high.  Still Jeff Van Gundy stuck it out for many years and was regarded as one of the best coaches in the league before he finally decided to walk away from the Knicks.  While speaking on Doc Rivers decision to leave the Celtics and coach the Clippers, Van Gundy looked back at the decision he made and says it’s something he still regrets.  Read more after the jump.

Shay Marie

Al Innazzone of Newsday:

Van Gundy opened up about his “bad decision” Friday during an interview on the Michael Kay Show on ESPN radio. They were discussing Doc Rivers’ decision to leave the Celtics to become the Clippers’ coach. Van Gundy defended Rivers, saying what he did 12 1/2 years ago was worse.

“I quit the Knicks, so I know what quitting is,” he said. “I did it. I quit. And it’s something I regret to this day . . . I was just emotionally spent. I made a bad decision and I quit.

“Doc Rivers didn’t quit. He was allowed to pursue a better opportunity for himself. That’s a significant, significant difference that everybody’s glossing over.”

Rivers was going to be paid $7 million per season for three more years if he stayed in Boston, to coach a team that wasn’t going to even make the playoffs once ownership decided it was time to blow things up. His leaving may seem like he was bailing on the team, but it was really the best decision to make for both sides.

Van Gundy left the Knicks after just 19 games in 2001, and said his situation was much worse than that of Rivers’.

“I had a great job with the Knicks,” Van Gundy said. “I let . . . frustration overwhelm me when I should have taken more time to come to that conclusion or a conclusion. Mine was certainly worse.”

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