Stan Van Gundy, the former Miami Heat and Orlando Magic coach, has been tapped to serve as the head coach and head of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons.

Stan Van Gundy Gets Pistons Job

Van Gundy’s contract with the Detroit NBA franchise has yet to be finalized, but an insider has implied that it’s a done deal to the Detroit Free Press. It’s likely that the contract will be finalized by the end of the week.

Thus far in his head-coaching career, Van Gundy, 54, has a 371-208 record. In Detroit, he’ll have even more control of his team, as Pistons owner Tom Gores has given him complete control over personnel. Whoever is selected as the general manager will report directly to Van Gundy.

The only two other NBA coaches with full control over their personnel are Doc Rivers (Los Angeles Clippers) and Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs).

“We're so happy in central Florida. It would really have to be a great situation for me to get back in,” Van Gundy said last week when asked if he’d return to the league. "I miss a lot of it. I really do. I miss the competition. I miss the challenge. I miss the camaraderie of it. But I also like the time that I've had, so we'll just have to see what happens. You weigh every situation."

With the Pistons, Van Gundy will be looking to bring a team with a five-year playoff drought back into the running for a championship. In 2009, Van Gundy brought the Orlando Magic to the NBA finals.