Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Tulane on January 4, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET
1 p.m. ET
Men's Basketball
at Tulane
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Basketball Tip-off Dinner Highlighted by Van Gundy
10/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 13, 2005
Boca Raton, FL - Matt Doherty, Florida Atlantic University's men's basketball coach, hales from a background rich with tradition. Doherty is a former player and coach at North Carolina, has been an assistant at Kansas and was a head coach at Notre Dame. Three schools rich with tradition.
Doherty assumed FAU's helm in the spring and has started to make an imprint on the south Florida community, one such imprint was his first tip-off dinner, held last Tuesday.
The "family style" event was held in the FAU Gymnasium and featured an introduction of both the men's and women's basketball programs as well as a special appearance from Miami Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy.
Coach Doherty addressed the crowd which filled the west side bleachers. He spoke of his philosophies and about the team's core values: respect, trust and commitment. He elaborated on his short-term goal, getting better every day, and his long-term goal of winning the conference tournament and advancing to the NCAA tournament.
Doherty gave way to Van Gundy, a man who praised FAU's administration for bringing a coaching staff to south Florida that possesses the credentials that only strengthen the state and area's college basketball reputation and popularity. He also noted FAU's ability to attract outstanding coaches such as Doherty and football coach Howard Schnellenberger.
Florida Atlantic will open its 2005-2006 campaign under Doherty on November 18. The squad travels to Colgate and Northwestern before returning home for the team's home opener 7 p.m., November 30 versus North Florida.
About Van Gundy
Head Coach Miami Heat,br> - 2003-04 -- Tied the Heat record for most wins by a first year head coach
- 2003-04 -- Became just the 4th team in modern NBA history to make the playoffs after beginning the season with seven consecutive losses.
-2003-04 -- had a 17 win improvement vs. 2002-03.
- One of only four rookie head coaches in NBA history to win a game 7.
- March 2004 - Eastern Conference Coach of the Year
- 62% winning percentage
- Led Heat to best record in Eastern Conference in 2004-05
Postgame Presser vs. UTSA
Wednesday, December 31
Weekly Presser w/ Head Coach John Jakus
Monday, December 29
Postgame Presser vs. UCF
Tuesday, December 23
Weekly Media w/ Head Coach John Jakus
Monday, December 22