Jeff Van Gundy 'regrets' quitting Knicks head coaching job

Jeff Van Gundy regrets resigning from the Knicks. (Photo by Keith Torrie/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Former New York Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy said he regrets quitting the Knicks head coaching position in 2001 on The Michael Kay Show on Friday. Van Gundy said he made a "bad decision" because he was "emotionally spent" from coaching the Knicks.

Van Gundy resigned his head coaching position in the middle of the 2001-2002 season while the Knicks were 10-9 on December 8, 2001. The current ESPN broadcaster said there were multiple reasons why he was unhappy as head coach but there wasn't one specific thing he could point to.

Van Gundy also defended Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers against ESPN analyst Bill Simmons' allegations that Rivers quit on the Celtics. Van Gundy cited his own experience with the Knicks as an example of a coach quitting on a team.

Jeff Van Gundy on resining from the Knicks in 2001:

“I know what quitting is – I did it,” Van Gundy said on “The Michael Kay Show.” “It’s something I regret to this day. I live with it every day and I regret it. And I let my emotions come into it and I was just emotionally spent. I made a bad decision.”