The New York Knicks are striking out with all their current NBA head coach targets right now, so they may have to turn to a former one.
Ex-Knicks head coach Mike Woodson is considered to be a “wild card” for the job, Ian Begley of SportsNet New York reported Wednesday during an appearance on the “Knicks Film School” podcast. Begley says that the Knicks will likely “at least have a conversation” with Woodson and notes that Woodson has good relationships with Knicks owner James Dolan, president Leon Rose, and executive William Wesley.
You can watch the full clip of Begley’s remarks below.
Mike Woodson as Knicks coach again?@IanBegley: “Very strong relationship w Leon, Wes…I’d be surprised if didn't at least have conversation…I think he & James Dolan…on good terms. Wild card…Another one that’s at least on my mind”
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 11, 2025
MORE @KnickFilmSkool https://t.co/l0Hy9Xcfq5 pic.twitter.com/JU7a6WDQJs
Woodson, now 67 years old, was the head coach of the Knicks from 2012-14 (a period marked by the Carmelo Anthony-Amar’e Stoudemire partnership). In 2013, Woodson led the Knicks to a division title as well as their first playoff series victory since 2000. However, Woodson was fired in 2014 amid widespread rumors that he did not get along with multiple Knicks players.
Also previously an NBA head coach with the Atlanta Hawks, Woodson spent the last four seasons in the college ranks as the head coach at Indiana University. He went 82-53 (.607) overall with the Hoosiers (including two NCAA Tournament appearances) but stepped down at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Woodson has since landed a job as a lead assistant coach for a different NBA team. But it looks like there is at least a chance that Woodson could have a change of heart if he gets a call from the Knicks (who have kicked around the possibility of a head coaching reunion with Woodson in recent years past).
