New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Knicks announced Monday that coach Mike Woodson and his entire staff were relieved of their duties.
Woodson’s status was the subject of speculation throughout the regular season, but the team made his departure official after a 37-45 finish to this season.
Woodson had one year and $3.3 million left on his contract.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Woodson and his entire staff,” team president Phil Jackson said in a statement. “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 went 109-79 (.580) in parts of three seasons, which included two consecutive appearances and an Atlantic Division title. However, the team finished out of the playoffs this season.
In nine seasons as an NBA head coach, Woodson is 315-365.
Reports of Woodson’s status heated up late last week, including one from ESPN that said Woodson wanted to know if he still had the job or not before scheduling a face-to-face meeting with Jackson. According to the report, Woodson preferred not to meet if he was being fired. Instead, he reportedly wanted Jackson to inform his agent if he was being let go.
It is not clear if a meeting between the two occurred.
The Knicks will immediately begin a search for a new coach.
According to a report from the New York Post late last week, TNT analyst Steve Kerr expects to be the Knicks’ next coach and that he would accept the job if offered to him.
Kerr has no previous coaching experience but was formerly the general manager of the Phoenix Suns and played for Jackson with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.
Kerr was a part of five NBA championships as a player: three with the Bulls (1996-98) and two with the San Antonio Spurs (1999 and 2003).
Jackson has said that he wants to team to implement his “triangle” offense so he will likely hire a coach already familiar with it.
