Reports conflict on Van Gundy's future with Rockets

HOUSTON -- Jeff Van Gundy is quitting as coach of the Houston Rockets. Or is he?

Conflicting reports emerged Sunday, with the New York Post citing an "impeccable" unidentified source that the former coach of the New York Knicks is leaving the NBA sidelines for the foreseeable future.

A report in the Houston Chronicle refuted the report in the Post, quoting Van Gundy.

"I haven't even thought about that yet," Van Gundy told the Chronicle. "It's just 12 hours after we lost. There has been speculation about my job going on the whole year. Anybody that's saying that (he has chosen to step down as Rockets coach), I have no idea why they would say that."

Rockets owner Leslie Alexander isn't saying that, either. Alexander told the Chronicle that he does not plan on firing Van Gundy, who has a non-guaranteed season remaining on his contract.

"There is absolutely no truth to that," the owner said. "That's false, totally false. That decision has not been made."

The Post's report said Van Gundy's decision is not based on Saturday's home loss in Game Seven of Houston's first-round playoff series against Utah.

Van Gundy has coached the Rockets for four seasons, making the playoffs every year except 2006, when injuries sidelined superstars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming for long stretches.

But the Rockets have failed to get out of the first round under Van Gundy, twice losing in Game Seven. They also were turned away by Dallas in the first round in 2005 despite winning the first two games of the series on the road.

Van Gundy is 430-318 as an NBA coach, including 192-146 with the Rockets. His overall playoff record is 44-44, including 7-12 with Houston.

A disciple of Pat Riley, Van Gundy replaced Don Nelson as coach of the Knicks during the 1995-96 season and guided them to the 1999 Finals, when they became the first eighth seed in league history to reach the championship. New York lost to San Antonio in five games.

Under Van Gundy, the Knicks reached the 2000 conference finals but were eliminated in the first round for the first time in 10 years the following season. Van Gundy resigned 19 games into the 2001-02 campaign.

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