Knicks set to interview Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown next week: Sources
The New York Knicks' search for a head coach is ongoing, but it's possible that a conclusion could come within the next two weeks.
Former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown will both interview with the organization next week, league sources told The Athletic. As of now, they are considered the leading candidates to replace Tom Thibodeau, whom the Knicks fired on June 3 shortly after their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years. New York made the playoffs in four of the five seasons that he was in charge.
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Last week, the Knicks reached out to several teams to seek permission to talk to their under-contract head coaches about the vacancy. New York was denied access by all of them, according to league sources. However, while it's unlikely, it's possible that two of the names the Knicks inquired about could still be in play.
The Dallas Mavericks' Jason Kidd and the Chicago Bulls' Billy Donovan are two the New York might circle back to in the coming weeks, according to league sources. The belief around the league is that Kidd and Donovan are looking for contract extensions from their current franchises, and if those don't materialize, they might be open to joining the Knicks.
In addition to Jenkins and Brown interviewing next week, New York is also expected to start contacting organizations to speak with assistant head coaches about the opening, per a league source.
Jenkins had a 250-214 record during his six seasons in Memphis. The Grizzlies, while a respectable regular-season team under Jenkins' watch, only made it past the first round of the playoffs once during that time. The 40-year-old Jenkins was fired just before the end of the regular season.
Brown has a 454-304 record in his 11-year head-coaching career split between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Kings. Brown helped turn Sacramento back into a respectable franchise before he was fired, leading the Kings to back-to-back 45-win seasons for the first time since 2004-06 before he was let go in December. Brown also coached the Cleveland team that lost in the NBA Finals in 2007.
The Knicks were the butt of jokes on social media and national television broadcasts over the last week as they reached out to more than a handful of teams to get permission to speak to their head coaches. According to league sources, New York took that approach because it felt that it was important to see which employed coaches might be available and, being that the Knicks are the only team with a vacancy, the franchise doesn't feel the need to rush the process. T
he Knicks, league sources said, have given off the vibe that they believe some strong candidates might be available who aren't currently head coaches for other teams.
(Photo of Taylor Jenkins: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
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OMAHA, Neb. — Mired in a stretch of nine years without a winning season, the Murray State baseball community pondered its plight in 2018. The Racers were down. And to many constituents, little belief existed in their ability to get up. 'Over time, Murray State just kinda froze,' said Matt Kelly, an administrator in athletics at the school since 2004. 'People looked at the state of our athletic department — not just baseball — and they thought, 'We need so many things and we'll never be able to do that.' So they just didn't do any of it.' Advertisement Four years earlier, in 2014, Allen Ward, the Murray State athletic director at the time, had fired baseball coach Rob McDonald. One of McDonald's assistants, Dan Skirka, impressed the administration with his positive attitude and work ethic even in the darkest of times. Ward interviewed Skirka for the open head coaching job. He was 29. 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Yantko went to work. For baseball, the athletic department added $750,000 over two years to its operational budget. It hired two assistant coaches and updated the weight room. It repurposed space in the football stadium to provide a meeting area for Skirka and a team room for his players. The school provided access for baseball players to nutrition and recovery efforts. For years, Murray State players took batting practice outside at Johnny Reagan Field in the winter. When the temperature dipped below 30 degrees, the Racers piled on layers of clothing. Yantko and Skirka partnered to help deliver an indoor hitting facility. 'Is it what other teams here are hitting in?' Skirka said. 'No. But it's good enough for us to get better. Those little things go a long way. Little by little, every year, we just try to keep this thing rolling.' All of it, Yantko describes as a 'strategic investment.' 'We put Dan in a position to win,' Yantko said. 'He's the type of guy I want to invest in.' 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