Pistons owner Gores excited about appointment of SVG.
The Detroit Pistons have hired Stan Van Gundy to be their new coach and president of basketball operations although terms of the deal were not disclosed.
According to ESPN, it is understood to be a five-year deal worth $35m, but the team are scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday and there is a possibility further details will be announced.
Despite strong interest from the Golden State Warriors, Van Gundy was convinced by the project in Detroit which paved the way for TNT analyst Steve Kerr to replace Mark Jackson in Oakland.
Van Gundy released a statement thanking owner Tom Gores for the faith placed in him to turn the fortunes of the Pistons around, while Gores himself was delighted to announce the deal.
“Stan is a proven winner in our league. He instills his teams with passion, purpose and toughness,” he said in a statement. “He is a great teacher who will help our players grow and develop.
“Stan is more than just a great coach, he’s a great leader. What I’m most excited about is how Stan can help us shape the franchise and instill what it means to be the best. He’s also a great communicator. My time with Stan has me convinced that he will bring our players, team and community to a very proud place.”
The Pistons had been looking for a new head of basketball operations for the first time in more than a decade after Detroit legend Joe Dumars left the post in April.
Having also decided to fire coach Maurice Cheeks just 50 games into the season, Gores has decided to hand the reigns over to Van Gundy in all aspects and will now look on to see whether or not he can transform the Pistons into a winning team.
Van Gundy never had a losing record in eight full seasons with the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, but he arguably faces his toughest task yet given that the Pistons have had six straight losing seasons.
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