New York Knicks Fire Coach Mike Woodson

The New York Knicks organization fired its entire coaching staff, the team announced Monday, after failing to make the playoffs despite competing in a weak Eastern Conference.

Phil Jackson, the newly-minted Knicks president, said in a release that coach Mike Woodson and his staff would not be returning next season. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Woodson and his entire staff,” Jackson said. “The coaches and players on this team had an extremely difficult 2013-14 season, and blame should not be put on one individual. But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and beyond.”

Woodson had one year remaining on a three-year contract. Under Woodson, the Knicks won a playoff series for the first time in 13 seasons in the 2012-2013 season.

But the team fell short of being a title contender this year, as owner James Dolan had hoped. The Knicks began the season 3-13. They recovered in March, winning 12 of 15 games, but still missed out on a playoff spot.

Jackson, a 13-time NBA champion, said that the search for a coach would begin immediately, according to ESPN.

[ESPN]