Despite the Knicks reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 season, it was not enough to prevent their head coach from being fired and a prominent college basketball coach from New Jersey being named as a candidate to replace him.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Knicks had fired Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau spent the last five seasons with the Knicks, making the playoffs in four of those seasons, including this year. However, the Knicks never made the finals, including this season after they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals in six games.
NJ Advance Media’s Adam Zagoria mentioned that UConn head coach Dan Hurley is listed as a potential replacement, joining former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone and former Villanova head coach and current college basketball analyst Jay Wright.
Hurley, who has led UConn to two national championships, is familiar with the market, having been born and raised in Jersey City and having played collegiately at Seton Hall. Hurley has also showed off his fiery persona, unafraid to lash out at officials in a manner that would make coaching legend Bob Knight proud.
Zagoria previously reported Hurley had a chance to become an NBA head coach after the Los Angeles Lakers offered him a six-year, $70 million contract, but Hurley turned down the opportunity, opting to stay at UConn. On social media, there is mixed reaction to the idea of Hurley becoming the Knicks head coach.
SiriusXM radio host Adam Schein was not happy with Thibodeau being fired, calling it “absolutely awful.” Schein said that only one name would make sense for the Knicks’ new vacancy.
“I absolutely hate this. Awful. Terrible. But…I’ve said that if the Knicks make change there’s only 1 name. Dan Hurley,” Schein posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Broadcaster and podcaster Bryan DeNovellis said the timing of the Knicks hiring Hurley could not be better.
“If there was ever a time and a team for Dan Hurley to jump to the NBA … it’s now,” DeNovellis posted. “The Knicks are the one job he would covet. They are a championship contender with great leaders and an All-NBA lead guard.”
X user “newyorkgrooovee” mapped out several reasons why he believed Hurley is a fit, including Hurley’s disdain for a former Knicks coach.
“I need somebody to convince me otherwise but Dan Hurley becoming the Knicks next head coach makes WAY too much sense,” he posted. “Hurley loves MSG, grew up in N.J., absolute fiend for spotlight, Hurley hates Pitino (former Knick HC), ’24 UConn gave Hurley a reality check, Hurley hates current CBB landscape. Question is though … Is the Knicks front office willing to risk an absolute disaster if Hurley doesn’t win in NYC? Are Brunson and KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns) a fit personality wise for Hurley? Could James Dolan coexist with an egotistical wackjob like himself with Hurley? I hope for the sake of college basketball and the Knicks that Dan Hurley doesn’t even get a phone call but something tells me that this makes way too much sense for both sides …”
Dan Meehan took a different stance, pointing to Hurley’s most recent recruiting class and roster at UConn as a reason why he is staying put.
“Let the Knicks firing of Tom Thibodeau be a reminder that UConn had the best offseason of any program in college basketball,” Meehan posted. “Dan Hurley is going nowhere and the work for three national championships in four years has already begun at the Werth Center. #Reloaded.”
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.
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