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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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Red Holzman defined New York Knicks basketball (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

1. Best head coaches in Knicks history: Red Holzman

The best head coach in New York Knicks history is an easy selection. Hall-of-Famer Red Holzman is one of the greatest bench chiefs in NBA history. The New York native won 613 games over 14 seasons with the Knicks. Most importantly, he was the man on the sidelines when the franchise won its only two championships.

Starting as a scout for the organization, Holzman worked his way to the lead spot on the bench, where in his second full season on the job, the team won a then-record 18 games in a row on way to an NBA title.

Holzman finished above .500 in each of his first seven seasons as head coach, before falling on hard times in the late seventies, which he rebounded from to win 50 games again in 1980-81.

It seems impossible to comprehend today, with the Knicks searching for a new coach seemingly every offseason, but Holzman coached over 1,000 games in New York and finished with an amazing .559 winning percentage in the regular season. He was just as good in the playoffs, where he coached a franchise best 97 games, winning 54, and finishing with a .557 winning percentage, tops in team history.

Next. Ranking the head coaching candidates. dark

While we can debate the ranking from 2-5, there’s no question that Holzman is the best.

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