Knicks assistant Mike Woodson has accepted a position to become the new head coach of Indiana men’s basketball program, the school announced today (Twitter link).
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported (via Twitter) that the sides were finalizing a six-year contract. The agreement allows Woodson to officially return to his alma mater.
Woodson moved up in the program’s wish list after Celtics coach Brad Stevens and Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann both declined the job, according to Jeff Goodman of Stadium (Twitter link).
Woodson, a former NBA player and veteran coach, joined Tom Thibodeau‘s staff with the Knicks last September. He has previously served as an assistant with several teams from 1996-2004, head coach of the Hawks from 2004-10, head coach of the Knicks from 2012-14 and assistant with the Clippers from 2014-18.
Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Woodson isn’t the only New York-based assistant coach eyeing a college job. According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Nets assistant Royal Ivey interviewed for the Texas Longhorns’ open coaching position on Sunday. Ivey played his college ball for Texas before entering the NBA in 2004, appearing in the Final Four with the program in ’03.
- Free agent guard Tahjere McCall is signing in France with Orléans Loiret Basket, his agent told Hoops Rumors. The 26-year-old recently played with the Lakeland Magic and received NBA G League All-Defensive Team honors. He also averaged 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 15 games, proving his worth on both ends of the floor.
- Despite an announcement from the team last week, guard Armoni Brooks will no longer be reporting to Orléans Loiret Basket, sources said. McCall will essentially be replacing Brooks, who averaged 16 points per game in the G League this season. The 22-year-old Brooks went undrafted in 2019.
Woodson played at Indiana. This is a good career move for him. He should do well, this should be his last job. Can’t believe they would have Brad Stevens on their list, Really. Wish him the best .
3 ECF in 4 years ya that Brad guy can’t coach.
NBA success does not mean ncaa success.
Stevens could write his own contract for almost any major HC’ing job. He’s a proven superstar as college HC, as well as a proven quasi-star as an NBA HC. He turned down the Indiana job. No surprise to me. It’s rare for a successful NBA HC to take a college job (even with a prior background there). NBA HC is just an easier job (at least for made men) that pays better.
Woodson has never been a college HC, and I don’t believe has any background in college coaching. He’s no kid. Hopefully, for him and Indiana, he’s an old dog that can learn some new tricks. If so, I think he can succeed. If not, he’ll be gone in a few years.
Why would Stevens take Indiana over Boston Celtics.
A young talented contender Celtics team. Yeah he’s gonna leave that. This the sensitivity Police. Sooooo
Again why would Brad Stevens even be on their list ??
Never hurts to ask. It didn’t go very far.
Would you want to be a member of the search committee (or their hired search firm) if they didn’t ask, and it was later revealed that he was inching to go back to college?