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NY Knicks: Ranking the best head coaches in franchise history

By Jeffrey Bellone

13 Feb 2001: Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy of the New York Knicks motions on the sidelines during the game against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Knicks 96-77. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport
13 Feb 2001: Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy of the New York Knicks motions on the sidelines during the game against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Knicks 96-77. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport /
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Jeff Van Gundy, head coach of the New York Knicks (Photo by KMazur/WireImage) /

3. Best head coaches in Knicks history: Jeff Van Gundy

A strong argument can be made that Pat Riley deserves to be ranked higher than his disciple, but Jeff Van Gundy’s longevity and playoff success, particularly when matched-up against Riley, puts him second on my list.

Van Gundy has the third most regular season wins, second best regular season winning percentage, and second most playoff wins in Knicks history. If it wasn’t for suspensions in 1997, the coach known for drinking diet cokes along the sideline and hanging on Alonzo Mourning’s leg during a skirmish would have beaten Riley’s Heat teams four consecutive times in the playoffs.

Perhaps his best work was while leading a rag-tag group of both aging and developing stars to the NBA Finals as the eighth seed in 1999.

After a lockout-shortened season, it took some time to get the roster to gel together, with Patrick Ewing slowly fading into the background as newly-acquired Latrell Sprewell became an integral piece in the Knicks’ offense, coming off a year-long suspension from choking his coach in Golden State. But that Knicks team seemed to have fate on their side, as they gave fans an incredible number of memories that remain in highlight reels to this day.

Van Gundy would bring the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2000, having effectively coached them to each round of the playoffs over his first four years on the job. A first round upset in 2001 would be the last of the good ol’ days of rooting for the Knicks, as the moment overlaps with the ending of Patrick Ewing’s tenure in New York and James Dolan becoming owner of the team.

The hard-working coach abruptly resigned early into the 2001-02 season. But Van Gundy’s five years at the helm were some of the best years to be a Knicks fan.

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