Knicks: Is Jeff Hornacek Doomed To Fail As Head Coach?

Is New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek doomed to fail with Kurt Rambis on his staff?

The New York Knicks’ shocked the basketball world when Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck broke the news they had signed Jeff Hornacek to become the team’s 28th head coach. The enigmatic signing left the Knicks’ fan base and the media puzzled.

Phil Jackson hired a coach outside of his coaching tree, but did not aggressively pursue the best candidates available (i.e. Tom Thibbodeau, Frank Vogel). Furthermore, Hornacek’s record on paper doesn’t exactly breed enthusiasm: 101-112 (.474) in two-and-a-half years with the Phoenix Suns.

However, a lot can be blamed on personnel issues, trades, and unfortunate injuries. That’s what makes Hornacek such a mystery. In many ways, he is unproven. But unproven may not necessarily be a bad thing.

Another Jeff, Jeff Van Gundy, was an unproven head coach who lead the Knicks to a record of 248-172 (.576) from 1996-2001, including the Knicks’ Cinderella run to the NBA Finals in 1999.

The Knicks may thrive under Hornacek, but is he being set up to fail from the beginning?

During the Knicks’ introductory Hornacek press conference on June 3, 2016, Phil Jackson gave insight into former head coach Derek Fisher’s coaching staff:

"“I looked at the model that was used in Indiana,” Jackson said. “Larry Bird hired some substantial assistants when he was coach: [Rick] Carlisle and Dick Harter as defensive and offensive coordinators. And that was the model I thought was appropriate to have with Derek coming in and learning how to coach and having guys that had coached and had head coaching experience…”"

He went on to say in regards to Hornacek:

"“This is entirely different. This is a coach that can teach and also has an idea of what kind of practices he wants to run and how he wants to do business.”"

It was speculated that Jackson faced pressure—from Knicks owner James Dolan, the Knicks’ fans, and the Knicks’ players—not to hire his buddy Kurt Rambis. Hornacek addressed the Rambis elephant in the room during the press conference himself:

"“I think it’d probably be more awkward if I didn’t know Kurt,” Hornacek said. “But I do know Kurt and we talked about a lot of things and how, if I kept him on as coach, what his role would be. It was a good talk.”"

So it appeared as if Jackson was giving Hornacek the keys to the kingdom to determine his own coaching staff because, in Jackson’s words, Hornacek has an idea of how he wants to run practices and how he wants to do business. And then the inevitable happened.

Less than a week after the press conference, there were rumblings that Kurt Rambis would be joining Hornacek’s staff.

Hornacek told WFAN’s Mike Francesa:

"“I know Kurt’s coaching abilities, what he can provide to us, and I’ve talked to him once about the possibility and how he would fit on our staff,” Hornacek said. “I’m going to continue to talk to him over these next few days. … As we go on in this process, if I think he’d be good for us, then I’d love to have him. If we talk and we just don’t seem like it’s going to fit well, then he’ll move on and get another job.”"

This implied that if Rambis didn’t “fit”, then he wouldn’t be on the staff.

Yet Jackson said in an interview around the same time with SNY that Rambis “fits in a number of ways” as a potential addition to Hornacek’s staff.

"“He has a great idea of what we’re trying to get accomplished, and I think he can help Jeff feel his way through this club and find the best way to play.”"

It sounds like Jackson wants Rambis on Hornacek’s coaching staff. Jackson’s view isn’t “if Rambis fits” but rather “Rambis fits”. However, Ian Begley of ESPN reported that Hornacek has signed off on adding Rambis to his staff, and “nothing is being forced down Jeff’s neck.”

Even Hornacek’s mentor Jerry Sloan gave him a “warning” per Fred Kerber of the NY Post:

"“Another thing, I had great assistant coaches. And I used them, too,” said Sloan, who had a terrific long-running relationship with assistant Phil Johnson in particular. “So he should do that. Get someone who has a lot of experience because there are a lot of questions you can’t answer.”"

Does Rambis have experience? Yes he does. Rambis has had numerous years of experience as an assistant, and has found success when he coached under Jackson. But his head coaching record is atrocious 65-164 (.284).

Is he the right assistant that Sloan was talking about? One has to wonder what is going on behind the scenes at the Knicks’ front office. It was reported by many news outlets that Rambis was the front runner for the Knick’s head coaching vacancy.

And then, out of left field, Hornacek was hired.

Why would Rambis agree to be on Hornacek’s staff when Hornacek was the man that beat him for the job? And why would Rambis agree to be an assistant coach when his good friend Phil Jackson could have hired him as the head coach?

Hornacek appears to be saying the right things and if this is something he really signed off on then kudos to him. He deserves to have a say in who he hires. However, if this consolation prize for Rambis is all part of Jackson’s bigger plan of maintaining control then Hornacek is doomed from the start.

must read: Which free agent point guards would best fit Jeff Hornacek?

Only time will tell.