Daily Knicks
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 8
Next
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 31: Red Holzman’s retired jersey of the New York Knicks hangs on March 31, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 31: Red Holzman’s retired jersey of the New York Knicks hangs on March 31, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Red Holzman

Tenure: 1967-1977, 1978-1982
Regular Season Record: 613-484 (.559)
Postseason Record: 54-43 (.557)
Accolades: 2x (1970, 1973) NBA Champion, 1972 Eastern Conference Champions, 1970 Coach of the Year

With all due respect to the other coaches on this list, there’s no rational debate against Red Holzman being No. 1. Between the accolades, the influence, and the iconic nature of his image and influence, Holzman is the epitome of what a New York Knicks head coach should be.

Anyone who attempts to dispute this ranking can look at the fact that Holzman has won more championships in New York than all other coaches combined.

Holzman holds the franchise record for career wins, and by a very large margin. He won 613 regular season games as head coach of the Knicks, with Joe Lapchick checking in at No. 2 with 326—just under half as many as Holzman.

Holzman also won 58 playoff games, which far exceeds No. 2 Jeff Van Gundy’s 37.

Furthermore, Holzman led New York to three NBA Finals appearances—tied with Joe Lapchick for the franchise record. Far more important than the accolades, however, is the way that Holzman managed a 1970s Knicks squad with an overwhelming number of egos.

Holzman’s work in keeping the likes of Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, and Jerry Lucas on the same page is the stuff of legend.

More knicks: The 25 Greatest Players of All-Time

It’s no coincidence that Phil Jackson, who’s commonly regarded as the greatest manager of egos in NBA history, played for Holzman—the greatest coach in New York Knicks history.