Rick Pitino voices his opinion on one candidate New York Knicks should consider as head coaching search continues

Rick Pitino was the 13th head coach of the New York Knicks, taking over the team in 1987 and staying for two seasons. Earlier this month, the Knicks made the surprising decision to fire Tom Thibodeau, the franchise's 31st coach, opening up a coaching vacancy.

As the search for a new coach continues, many consider Pitino a candidate to return to the Knicks. While he made comments about his expectations to stay at St. John’s, he voiced his opinion on who should be the next Knicks coach.

"I obviously coached our rookie of the year, Mark Jackson. I believe he spent 18 years in the NBA as a player. Great coach with the Warriors and one of the brightest minds I've coached. Would love to see the Knicks bring Mark Jackson home!!" he wrote on X.

Rick Pitino

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I obviously coached our rookie of the year, Mark Jackson. I believe he spent 18 years in the NBA as a player. Great coach with the Warriors and one of the brightest minds I've coached. Would love to see the Knicks bring Mark Jackson home!!

Jackson, who played under Rick Pitino during his time with the Knicks, had a brief coaching stint with the Golden State Warriors from 2011-2014. He led the team to the Conference semifinals in his second year and the first round the following year.

In the long list of names being thrown around to fill the coaching vacancy, Jackson's name had not yet been mentioned, making Pitino's suggestion even more intriguing.

When Rick Pitino himself was asked about the possibility of him taking the job, he shut down any notions of joining the organization.

"I was very proud to be the assistant coach under Hubie Brown. I'm very proud to have won the Atlantic Division as head coach of the New York Knicks. I can assure you that a 73-year-old is not coaching 100 games anymore," he said on the WFAN's BT & Sal show last week.

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Rick Pitino shares thoughts on Knicks’ unexpected decision to part with Tom Thibodeau

After five seasons with the Knicks, the organization moved on from Tom Thibodeau despite making it to the Eastern Conference finals this season — the furthest the team has been in the playoffs in 25 years.

Three days after losing to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the conference finals, the Knicks relieved Thibodeau of his duties.

St. John's coach Rick Pitino was just as surprised as everyone to hear the news and shared his thoughts on the decision.

"I feel bad for Thibs because he captured all of New York, built something very, very special," Pitino said during his appearance at Yankee Stadium last week. "A lot of us don't comprehend what happened, but Thibs is going to be well taken care of."

Thibodeau had a 226-174 record with the Knicks and was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2021.