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Reports: Mark Jackson, Jerry Stackhouse, David Fizdale on New York Knicks' list

The New York Knicks are moving forward in their search for their next head coach, with several household names high on their list of candidates to interview. In the wake of dimissing coach Jeff Hornacek at season’s end last week, the Knicks are searching for someone to push their team out of their five-season long playoff drought.

One name that won’t be in the mix: former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy. According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, the team has not shown interest in Van Gundy, who led the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals and coached the team from 1995-96 to 2001-02.

The New York Knicks have not shown interest in Jeff Van Gundy as a candidate for their head-coaching position, league sources told ESPN.

Van Gundy, a former Knicks coach and current NBA analyst for ESPN, would be open to talking about the position if he were approached by New York, league sources said. But league sources familiar with the matter said that despite contact between the team and Van Gundy’s representatives, there currently is no interest.

According to multiple reports, former Golden State Warriors coach and current ESPN analyst Mark Jackson, former Memphis Grizzlies coach David Fizdale and current Raptors 905 coach Jerry Stackhouse will soon get interviews with the team. In addition, former Knicks coach Mike Woodson and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt may also soon get interviews, too.

In fact, Stackhouse arrived in New York yesterday to do exactly that, according to the New York Daily News‘ Stefan Bondy and Al Iannazzone of the Newsday. Here’s more from Iannazzone on Stackhouse and the coaching search:

Jerry Stackhouse reportedly already is in New York to meet with Knicks executives, kicking off a week of interviews for the team.

A league source said Monday that Stackhouse will interview with the Knicks this week.

Team president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry also will sit down with David Fizdale, Mark Jackson and former Knicks coach Mike Woodson this week, league sources confirmed.

Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt is scheduled to interview with the Knicks next week, a league source confirmed.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Woodson’s interview will take place Wednesday in Los Angeles. The Knicks also could meet with Jackson and Fizdale on the West Coast. Jackson lives in Los Angeles and Fizdale is from there.

Stackhouse, 43, has coached the Raptors G League team for the last two seasons, leading them to the G League Finals in each season. He was G League Coach of the Year in 2016-17. Jackson was 121-109 in three seasons with the Warriors, but was fired after the 2013-14 season after clashes with management. Fizdale went 50-51 in his brief tenure with the Grizzlies, as he was fired 19 after a 7-12 start to this season.

Woodson is 315-365 in his NBA coaching career, which he spent with the Atlanta Hawks and Knicks from 2004-14. He went 109-79 in two-plus seasons in New York, guiding the team to its last playoff berth and a division title in 2012-13. He was fired after a 37-45 finish in 2013-14.

Blatt was 82-40 in 1 1/2 seasons of work with the Cavs, guiding them to the 2015 NBA Finals. However, he was fired midway through the 2015-16 season and his assistant, Tyronn Lue, took over from there.

The Knicks are among several teams seeking coaches this offseason, as the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic also recently parted ways with their coaches, too. In addition, the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies were all led by interim coaches to close out the 2017-18 season.

According to reports, the Magic and Hornets plan to interview Stackhouse, too. Fizdale has been linked to multiple NBA job openings as well.

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