Report: Knicks will hire former Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek
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The New York Knicks will hire former Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek, Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck reports. Beck categorized the deal “as close as humanly possible” to being done. ESPN’s Ian Begley and the New York Post’s Marc Berman confirmed the news. Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports talks are ongoing.
Hornacek was fired midseason by the Suns after a disappointing start, and will take over for interim head coach Kurt Rambis. The Knicks had been largely mum on the matter of hiring a coach since the season ended, tied to names including David Blatt and Frank Vogel, as well as the possibility of retaining Rambis, a friend of team president Phil Jackson. Reports surfaced earlier in the week that Hornacek had spoken with Jackson.
Hornacek, 53, holds a career record of 101–112 in 213 games as a head coach, all with Phoenix. He was tied to other jobs including the Magic, Rockets and Grizzlies, in addition to the Warriors’ assistant coach opening vacated by outgoing Luke Walton. He served as an assistant with the Jazz from 2010 to 2013.
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The Knicks went 32–50 last season, finishing 13th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference.
