Tim Haraway Sr. said Thursday that he is leaving the Miami Heat as a scout to join the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons.

“I’m ecstatic,” Hardaway said. “It’s something I wanted to do. It’s all about teaching. I’m good at teaching and understanding players."

Stan Van Gundy was an assistant coach with the Heat during Hardaway's stint with the team as a player.

"Stan and I have great rapport," Hardaway said. "[Heat president] Pat Riley said it’s a great thing for me and he’s happy for me. It’s going to be hard, going to be sad [to leave the Heat]. I am always a Heat family guy. There will always be a big place in my heart for the Heat, Micky Arison, Pat Riley. We helped each other in many ways. Great people. I will miss them. It’s bittersweet.”