Stand Van Gundy revealed that his late wife, Kim, committed suicide almost a year after his unexpected passing on August 16.
Stan, 64, and Kim were married for 35 years before she passed away at the age of 61.
On Friday, the NBA coach-turned-TV analyst reflected on his wife’s passing on the South Beach Sessions podcast with host Dan Le Batard. He then revealed that Kim committed suicide and detailed the preparations for her death.
“He took his life, Dan,” Van Gundy said. “I can’t imagine ever getting over that. It was devastating.”
“For my entire adult life, I follow everything (job changes, kids, everything). I was with her and she was by my side. “I never imagined I would live a day of my life without Kim,” said Van Gundy, who He added that his wife had been diagnosed with a mental illness.
Stan Van Gundy revealed that his wife, Kim, committed suicide nine months after his death
Kim Van Gundy passed away ‘unexpectedly’ at the age of 61 in August 2023
Their relationship began when Stan was 24 years old. They went on to have four children during their long marriage.
The couple met in 1984, when Kim was a student when Stan was hired as head basketball coach at Castleton State College in his native Vermont.
Kim followed Stan from one college town to another until he landed his first NBA job as an assistant with the Miami Heat in 1995. He was promoted to head coach in 2003 and remained in Miami for more than two seasons before bringing his services to Orlando. , Detroit and New Orleans.
“I knew I was going through a tough time, but I never imagined that would happen,” Van Gundy continued. ‘Even now, it’s been eight months and I’m struggling to accept the fact that I will never see her again. “I’m trying so hard to stay connected.”
‘My house is full of photos of Kim. There is a montage of photographs above my bed that my children took of Kim. I’m trying so hard to remember her voice, remember her smile, all that stuff. But most of all, live her values because her values were better than mine.
Van Gundy reflected on the passing of his late wife on the South Beach Sessions podcast
Van Gundy revealed that Kim was diagnosed with mental illness before her death.
Stan and Kim met in Vermont in 1984 and had four children during their 35-year marriage.
Stan coached the Heat, Magic, Pistons and Pelicans before moving into broadcasting.
Additionally, Stan reflected on their relationship and what he learned from having Kim by his side for decades. He also acknowledged how helpful her children have been during the grieving process.
‘She taught me a lot. And I want to live her values and a life that she is proud of. And my kids sometimes over the last eight months, sometimes, not very often, but I genuinely believe from their point of view that I’ll do something and they’ll say, ‘Mom would have been really proud of you for that.’ And that, above all, really makes me feel good because my wife was an incredible person and the loss is enormous.”
Van Gundy currently works for TNT and is part of the Western Conference Finals broadcast. While sharing that he is in therapy, he revealed that the struggle of losing yours can be a lifelong process.
“I just don’t think I’ll ever get over it.”