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New York Knicks: Ranking the greatest coaches in franchise history

By Maxwell Ogden

May 11, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy during game four of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy during game four of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Mike Woodson during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 125-107. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Mike Woodson during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 125-107. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mention: Mike Woodson

Tenure: 2012-2014
Regular Season Record: 109-79 (.580)
Postseason Record: 7-10 (.412)
Accolades: 2013 Division Title

Mike Woodson doesn’t receive enough credit for the brilliant work he did with the New York Knicks. The team eventually gave in to their career-long tendencies, but for a glorious year-and-a-half, Woodson had a roster full of one-way players committed to playing a two-way game.

The results put Woodson on the shortlist of the greatest coaches in franchise history.

Woodson took over for the Knicks with 24 games remaining in 2011-12, and overcame Jeremy Lin’s season-ending knee injury to lead the team to a record of 18-6. That was enough to earn him an opportunity to lead the Knicks on a full-time basis in 2012-13.

The end result: a 54-win season and a long-awaited division title.

New York’s 54 wins were its most since 1996-97—a fair indication of why Woodson is on this list. The division title was its first since 1993-94, which spelled the end of a near 20-year draught for the Knicks.

Woodson achieved as much in his brief tenure as many Knicks coaches did in a significantly longer period of time.

Next: Creating An Identity