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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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Oct 18, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley (center) watches from the stands during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. The Heat won 111-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley (center) watches from the stands during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. The Heat won 111-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Pat Riley

Tenure: 1991-1995
Regular Season Record: 223-105 (.680)
Postseason Record: 35-28 (.556)
Accolades: 1994 Eastern Conference Champions, 1993 Coach of the Year

The 1990s are one of the most storied eras in New York Knicks history. The foundation for those teams was a rugged and relentless defensive attack that preached physicality and inspired fear in the opposition.

That identity was built in the 1980s, but it was transformed into a formula for success by former head coach Pat Riley.

Riley, who won four championships as head coach for the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers, took over for the Knicks in 1991. In his first year with the team, New York improved its win count by 12 games, going from 39-43 in 1990-91 to 51-31 in 1991-92.

After being swept by the Chicago Bulls in 1991—the year before his arrival—Riley firmly established the Knicks as a force to be reckoned with by helping New York take Michael Jordan‘s crew to seven games in 1992.

Riley continued to experience success, leading the team to its second of two 60-win seasons in 1993, with the other coming in 1970. Riley led the Knicks to the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, and later took the team to the 1994 NBA Finals—its first appearance in said round since 1973.

Riley’s exit from New York was unceremonious, to say the very least, but he still owns the best regular season win percentage in franchise history at .680, and is .001 short of No. 1 in the postseason.

Next: Rings Over Everything