Stan Van Gundy

As I look back, I actually know my happiest year in coaching was 1983-84, coaching Castleton State College.

In 1984, 85, two years there where coaching at Castleton was unbelievable.

Good players, good teams, fabulous people who literally two weeks ago, eight of them came down.

Guys played for me 40 years ago and eight of them came down because...

You know, they knew I'd been through some things.

And so they were going to spend an entire weekend with me the weekend of the men's and women's final fours and stayed with me.

That group was really close in the NBA.

Honestly, the most enjoyable year as a head coach was my first year, my year here.

Oh, three or four.

We got off to an 0 and 7 start.

We were five and 15.

You know, and then to come all the way back and win 17 of our last 21 and make it to the second round of the playoffs.

And that was a group where a lot of guys were either getting their first opportunity.

Obviously, it was Dwayne Wade's rookie year.

Rafer Alston was really getting his first opportunity.

Damon Jones, you know, we had had the year before and had that great, you know, or we had, yeah, that year.

And so guys were getting their first big opportunity there.

To play.

And it was just fun.

I mean, it was, you know, nobody had any real expectations on us.