By KEVIN L. SMITH
The Boston Celtics recently hired Jeff Van Gundy as a senior consultant, according to NBC Sports.
According to reports, Van Gundy will be an advisor to Boston’s basketball operations. He will work with the Celtics and their G-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws.
Van Gundy, an alumnus of Brockport High School, was an ESPN NBA analyst from 2007 to this year. He was let go by ESPN in June due to a round of cost-cutting layoffs.
Up until joining the Celtics’ staff, Van Gundy hasn’t been part of an NBA team since he was the head coach of the Houston Rockets from 2003 to 2007. He was an assistant coach for the New York Knicks from 1989 to 1996, which included being part of the team’s run to the NBA Finals in 1994. Van Gundy was the Knicks’ head coach from 1996 to 2001, leading the team to the NBA Finals in 1999.
Van Gundy was a standout point guard for Brockport High School in the late 1970s to early 1980s. After spending a year apiece at Menlo College (California) and SUNY Brockport between 1981 and 1983, Van Gundy went on to be a star point guard at Nazareth University.
During his time with the Golden Flyers, Van Gundy earned All-American honors, and currently holds the school’s record for career free-throw percentage (86.8 percent). He also led Nazareth to an NCAA Division III Tournament in 1984.
Following his graduation from Nazareth in 1985, Van Gundy began his coaching career at McQuaid Jesuit High School during the 1985-86 season.
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