The New York Knicks announced on Monday the termination of coach Mike Woodson. As Knicks president Phil Jackson begins his coaching search, TNT analyst Steve Kerr reportedly remains the top choice to replace Woodson.
Woodson, who was expected to be fired at the end of the season, was officially relieved of his coaching duties on Monday.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Woodson and his entire staff," Jackson said in a statement released by the team website. "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."
The search for a new coach will begin immediately, according to the release.
Kerr remains the top choice to replace Woodson. Kerr's familiarity with the triangle offense, which Jackson is expected to implement in New York, and his five seasons playing in Chicago under Jackson makes him the leading candidate to take over.
"Steve Kerr remains frontrunner for the Knicks job," Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated tweeted on Monday. "(Denver coach) Brian Shaw the strongest, but he has a job."
For his part, Kerr reportedly "absolutely expects" to receive the job offer from Jackson and has already made arrangements with TNT if he becomes the next coach.
"According to a source close to the situation, Kerr 'absolutely expects' to be offered the job," George Willis of the New York Post wrote on Friday. "'And if he's offered the job, he's definitely going to do it,' the source told The Post.
"The Post has learned Kerr has had conversations with his bosses at Turner Sports about adjusting his schedule as an analyst during the upcoming playoffs should he be named the Knicks' head coach."
