When Jeff Van Gundy and the Houston Rockets parted company following the 2006-2007 season, it was easy to make the assumption that the basketball lifer would pull up stakes and leave town in pursuit of his next coaching job. But something about the life that he and his family had come to know in the West University area made the Van Gundys reconsider that plan, and they couldn’t be happier that they decided to stay put.

“When you get fired someplace, rarely do you want to stay in that place,” he says. “Because it’s personal. You still have to read about it, and hear about it, and be asked about it. My wife Kim did a great job right after it happened though, pointing out that this was a great place, and that hadn’t changed just because I had gotten fired. It might be a little bit difficult at first, but it’s best for everybody. After going through it for a year, I think it’s probably the best move that we never made.”

Knowing how difficult it is to avoid being a vagabond in the coaching profession, Jeff opted for family stability, and has no regrets. “I don’t want to be hop-scotching around the country chasing my dreams at the expense of how it impacts others.”

Softening the blow was his return to broadcasting games on television. He recently called the NBA Finals for ABC Sports. “To be fired and on the same day starting to do broadcasting was fortuitous to say the least.”

Jeff and Kim, along with daughters Matti, 12, and Grayson, 4, settled in West U shortly after he was named head coach of the Rockets in June of 2003. They had spent the previous 14 years living in the suburbs outside of New York City, and were rather surprised to find a neighborhood with such a small town feel so close to a major city.  “I just loved the tree-lined streets,” says Jeff. “I loved how close the houses were, because we didn’t want to be all spread out. We wanted to be able to meet people, and have a neighborhood feel. I think this is unique. You just don’t find it very many places.”

The family quickly became regulars at JMH market, and was very disappointed when the longtime neighborhood landmark was forced to close recently. “My daughter loved going down there and hanging out with her friends. It was safe, it was close.”

The Van Gundys are also regular patrons of the Buffalo Grille, which he refers to as “my spot.”

Jeff also became enamored with Rice University baseball, and often makes the 15-minute walk from his home to Reckling Park to take in games. He usually goes over by himself after the kids have gone to bed, but occasionally the girls come along for day games. He has even taken his father to see the Owls, and sees a lot of his dad in Rice baseball coach Wayne Graham.

“Great competitor, old fashioned values, curmudgeon—I have a lot of respect for him.”

“I grew up on college campuses,” he says. “I think there’s a great component to being close to a college campus, and Rice could be one of the most beautiful small colleges I’ve ever seen.” Jeff and wife Kim are also enamored with the convenience of shopping in the Rice University Village, which is within walking distance of their home.

The idyllic nature of life in West University Place makes it a great place for the family’s two children to grow up, and Jeff hopes that they use the experience as a springboard to success and happiness for years to come. “What I really want them to do is find their passion, and hopefully it will center around helping others,” said the girl’s father with obvious pride that their lives seem to be on that course already.

The many years in New York now seem like something of a distant memory for Jeff. And while the siren call of coaching may lure him back to an NBA or major college bench someday, the life that he and his family have found in West University would be very difficult to leave behind. “This is like the 2000’s version of Mayberry,” he says, “and that is the ultimate compliment that you can give.”