Jeff Van Gundy Signs as ESPN NBA Analyst

Former NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy has joined ESPN as part of the lead broadcast team, serving as an analyst alongside play-by-play commentator Mike Breen and analyst Mark Jackson, it was announced today by Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, studio and remote production.  Van Gundy will provide analysis for games on ABC and ESPN – including The Finals on ABC – in a role similar to last year when he was a guest analyst during the NBA Playoffs.

“Jeff was a tremendous addition during the 2007 NBA Playoffs and we’re looking forward to more of his analytical perspectives and insightful opinions over the course of a full season,” said Williamson.  

“I am thrilled to be able to work along side of Mike and Mark as we cover the NBA,” said Van Gundy. “Together, we hope to impart some insight, analysis and humor as we cover all the games, great players and the storylines that arise during the season.”

During the 2006-07 season, Van Gundy coached the Rockets to a 52-30 record – the team’s best mark since 1997 – despite a lengthy injury sustained by one of the team’s best players, perennial All-Star Yao Ming.  Van Gundy’s Rockets lost in the final game of a best-of-seven first round playoff series to the Utah Jazz.

Van Gundy was the head coach of the Rockets for four seasons from 2004-07, leading the team to a 182-146 record.  He previously was head coach of the New York Knicks from 1995-2001, when his the team won 248 games and made the playoffs six times (including an NBA Finals appearance in 1999).  Van Gundy was an NBA analyst with Turner Sports during the 2002-03 season.

Prior to his NBA coaching experience, Van Gundy was an assistant coach at Rutgers and Providence.  He graduated from Nazareth College in 1985.

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