HEAT Sign Pfund and Van Gundy to Extensions

"Randy and Stan are two of the most loyal, competent and reliable men at their positions in the NBA," said Riley. "They have made many significant contributions to the success of this organization over the past nine seasons. We are happy to finalize these extensions, which are well deserved, and reward them for their continuous efforts. I look forward to continue working closely with them to help bring a championship to Miami."

Pfund has completed his ninth year with the HEAT organization. During his tenure the HEAT has produced four consecutive Atlantic Division championships (1996-2000) for the first time in franchise history, seven postseason berths, including a franchise-record six straight postseason appearances (1996-2001) and has helped Miami post the ninth best record (396-310, .561 winning percentage) in the NBA over that span.

Miami's seven postseason appearances in the last nine seasons are tied for the second most in the Eastern Conference and the HEAT's 396-310 record during that period is the third best in the Eastern Conference. During his tenure he has acquired All-Stars Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway and Eddie Jones via trades, has drafted Caron Butler and Dwyane Wade and signed Lamar Odom as a free agent. He has also traded for Brian Grant and signed unheralded free agents like Rafer Alston, Bruce Bowen, Udonis Haslem and Isaac Austin who each made key contributions for HEAT teams that advanced to the postseason.

Van Gundy, who took over the head coaching reigns after Riley stepped down on Oct. 24, 2003, finished third in the NBA Coach of the Year balloting this past season after guiding the HEAT to the postseason for the first time in three years. In his first season as an NBA head coach, Van Gundy guided the HEAT to a second place finish in the Atlantic Division with a 42-40 record, a 17-win improvement over the previous season.

The 17-win improvement was the second best single-season improvement in franchise history and marked the fourth best improvement in the NBA from the 2002-03 season to the 2003-04 season. It also tied for the sixth greatest single-season improvement under a rookie head coach in NBA history. Van Gundy earned Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honors in March after leading the HEAT to a 12-3 mark, including a franchise-record nine home victories.

The first-year head coach guided the HEAT to a 17-4 mark in the season's final 21 games to grab the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Van Gundy led Miami to a 4-3 Opening Round series victory over the New Orleans Hornets, in the process he became just the fourth rookie head coach in NBA history to win a deciding seventh game joining Paul Westphal, Jerry West and Joe Mullaney.

The HEAT were defeated by Indiana, 4-2, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, marking just the third time in franchise history the HEAT advanced to the conference semifinals. Van Gundy originally joined the HEAT prior to the 1995-96 campaign as an assistant coach and was promoted to Assistant Head Coach two years later.