Team president Phil Jackson delivers news in a press release.
The New York Knicks have fired head coach Mike Woodson and the entire coaching staff, as per an announcement on Monday morning.
Knicks president Phil Jackson delivered the news in a press release that the entire staff had been relieved of their duties, with the search for a new coach likely to start immediately.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Woodson and his entire staff,” Jackson said, as reported by ESPN.
“The coaches and players on this team had an extremely difficult 2013-14 season, and blame should not be put on one individual. But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and beyond.
“Everyone in this franchise owes a great deal of gratitude to what Mike and his staff have done. We wish him the best.”
Woodson had one year remaining on his deal with the organisation, but ultimately he has paid the price for their failure to make the playoffs this season.
It is understood that Jackson will begin his search for a coach that is comfortable with implementing his triangle offense, with former Chicago Bulls star Steve Kerr among the names strongly linked with the position.
Kerr won three NBA titles under Jackson during their time together in Chicago, and he will likely be a frontrunner in the coming weeks as the search for Woodson’s replacement gathers pace.
Woodson coached the Knicks for the past two seasons after taking over from Mike D’Antoni on an interim basis back in 2011.
In his first full season in charge he guided the franchise to a 54-win regular season as well as a division title, while the Knicks also won their first playoff series in 13 seasons under his guidance.
However, with changes at the top it was inevitable that his time was coming to an end given the struggles on the court, although he consistently had the backing of Carmelo Anthony throughout the year, with the 29-year-old insisting that the players are equally to blame for the disappointing campaign.
COMMENTS