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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Stan Van Gundy expects the Detroit Pistons front office to be on the same page as the coaching staff. That shouldnt be too much to ask, considering hell be part of both. "One of the big problems at least in our league right now in a lot of places is there is not a great connection necessarily between front office and coaching," Van Gundy said. "This setup -- nothing to do with power -- it allows us to really create a tremendous synergy and a very unified organization." Van Gundy was formally introduced by the Pistons on Thursday as their coach and president of basketball operations. Detroit went 29-53 last season, missing the playoffs for a fifth straight year. That was the end of Joe Dumars tenure as team president. Coach Maurice Cheeks was fired in February and replaced on an interim basis by John Loyer. Van Gundys coaching is well respected -- he went 371-208 in seven-plus seasons with Miami and Orlando -- but now hell have the added responsibility of handling personnel matters. Its rare for one person to have that much control in the NBA, but Doc Rivers does both jobs for the Los Angeles Clippers. "This is the most important decision we have made as an organization," said Tom Gores, who took over as the teams owner in 2011. "Not only did we hire a coach and president of basketball, we are resetting the culture of the franchise. Im so confident that this is going to work." The Pistons have changed coaches quite a bit in recent years, but this is by far the biggest organizational shakeup in some time. Dumars had been president for 14 years before stepping down as this season drew to a close. Van Gundy inherits a roster that has a few talented players but looked dysfunctional on the court for much of last season. Detroits Andre Drummond is one of the games top young big men -- and Van Gundy has experience coaching big men like Shaquille ONeal in Miami and Dwight Howard in Orlando. "I think we have two responsibilities to Andre Drummond that will help our team, and that is, number one, to do everything we possibly can to develop him as a player," Van Gundy said. "And then secondly, we have a responsibility to put a system and personnel around him that allow him to thrive." Greg Monroe is a restricted free agent, and both Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva are unrestricted. "I want to start the process by sitting down with Greg face to face, talking about how he sees himself, how he sees our organization, and giving me a chance to talk to him about my vision for what goes on and how I think we can create a system that will fully maximize his abilities," Van Gundy said. Monroe, Drummond and Josh Smith can all be effective around the basket, but last seasons Pistons did not shoot well from the perimeter. And Detroit will lose this years first-round draft pick if its not in the top eight -- part of a previous trade with Charlotte. But with a five-year deal worth $35 million, it looks like Van Gundy will have time to turn this team around. "Part of what we hired here is the emotions," Gores said. "Thats what I want. He cares. Hes got a passion. The reason hes so prepared is he stays up at night thinking about things." The Pistons are desperate to become relevant again in the Motor City, where theyve been an afterthought lately. Hiring Van Gundy has certainly created a buzz, but now he and Gores are both under pressure to restore the franchises lustre. "Theres no excuses now," Van Gundy said. "What happens a lot of times in this thing is -- and I know because I talk to coaches all the time. Coaches say, Im doing a great job but this guy is not getting me good enough players. And the front office is telling ownership, We put together a great roster and the coach is screwing it up. "Theres none of that anymore. Its on us to get it done." Hakeem Butler Cardinals Jersey . -- Zach Johnson is like most players at the World Challenge, not sure whether hes still playing in 2013 or if hes in the middle of the new wraparound season that officially started in October. Kurt Warner Youth Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/by...ls-jersey-en/.C., has been named Canadas top female official, winning the 2014 SOC Award of Excellence. Cranes career as a figure skating judge has spanned over 40 years. Zach Allen Youth Jersey . Since coming to the big leagues in late May, La Stella is 6 for 7 with the bases loaded, driving in 13 runs in those at-bats. Zach Allen Jersey .C. -- Eric Staal kept his focus after his apparent breakaway goal was waived off early in the third period.NEWARK, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils replaced the fired Pete DeBoer with a three-headed coaching staff and didnt fare any better in the first game of the unique experiment.Former Washington Capitals coach Adam Oates, ex-Devils assistant and star defenceman Scott Stevens and general manager Lou Lamoriello are splitting duties on the bench. Oates will handle the forwards and Stevens will oversee the defence, Lamoriello said at a news conference before Saturdays morning skate.Hours later, the Devils (12-18-7) took on the Rangers in New York and lost 3-1.I still see positives, Lamoriello said after his clubs latest loss Saturday night. Were taking this a game at a time. You have to be optimistic or you shouldnt be in this game. Winning breeds success, and success breeds winning.We just have to keep at it.There will be no official head coach for the rest of the season. Lamoriello plans to remain on the bench until I feel comfortable with the situation.DeBoer was fired Friday with the Devils languishing nine points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They are ahead of only Carolina.Were going to feed off each other, Oates said before the game. Theres no reason why we cant work together. Everything happened pretty quickly. But when Lou calls, the answer is always Yes. It didnt matter what my responsibility would be.Oates went 68-47-17 in two seasons with the Capitals and spent two years with the Devils as an assistant coach, helping them reach the Stanley Cup finals in 2012. He played 19 years in the NHL, including a stint with the St. Louis Blues, when hee was teammates with Stevens.dddddddddddd Oates had 341 goals and 1,079 assists in his career and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.We have tremendous respect for each other, Oates said. We worked together here. We both played here and coached here, so its an easy transition for us. Its kind of a collaboration right now. Its a team effort and were all on the same page.Stevens spent 13 seasons with the Devils, much of it as captain. He had 196 goals and 712 assists during his career, leading the Devils to Stanley Cup championships in 1995, 2000 and 2003. He was an assistant coach with the team until the start of this season, when he had philosophical differences with DeBoer.Adam and I are going to try to get this righted, Stevens said. We have to get the Devil identity back. Ill make sure to work with the defence and Adam will work with the forwards. Hes already been a head coach, so it will be a good transition. In my opinion, it will be a great challenge, but we both love great challenges.Lamoriello made his league-record 14th coaching change.Its never easy in this league, Lamoriello said. Its been a long 48 hours, but you have to do what you feel is right.Lamoriello said that it wasnt fair to ask another coach to take over a floundering team midway through a season.Thats why we didnt even consider anyone else, Lamoriello said.Both of these individuals know our players, know the philosophy that we want, he added. It makes sense. I know its unique and different, but right now, its our way of moving forward. Im totally confident with the setup. ' ' '