Who will be the next coach

Mark Jackson's name has been thrown around.  Herb is going to be interviewed.  And a few sites have reported a potential return of Jeff Van Gundy.  Some have discussed even Rick Carlisle.

Sound off.  Who do you think it will be and how would you want it to be?

All kind of new names joining the list now, including Sam Mitchell of Toronto, who I am not a big fan of but he did play for the Pacers under Walsh.

As for Herb US, I actually have met Herb a few times when he lived down the street from me in the R-Woods area of Stamford.  Nice guy, very personable.  Definately the kind of guy you would want as a neighbor.  And I am guessing he can hold the respect of the players being a long time player and I know he is well liked by players.  But I am not sure that he is strict/firm enough to get the players to play for him.

I would love it if the Little General came to NYC!  And now Stan Van Gundy has suggested that Ewing be the man (courtesty of the Orlando Sentinel):

Stan Van Gundy stumps for Patrick Ewing as Knicks coaching candidate<o:p> </o:p>

Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer <o:p> </o:p>

April 25, 2008 <o:p> </o:p>

Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy on Thursday questioned why the New York Knicks might hire an inexperienced head coach when Patrick Ewing -- one of Van Gundy's assistant coaches -- is ready to do the job but apparently not a candidate. 

Former Knicks guard Mark Jackson is considered by many to be a front-runner for the coaching position left vacant after the firing of Isiah Thomas. Jackson has never coached and is currently working as a television analyst.

Ewing is interested in becoming a head coach, but told the Orlando Sentinel recently he had not been contacted by the Knicks.<o:p> </o:p>

Van Gundy said has he has "great respect" for Jackson, but "he's never coached at all."<o:p> </o:p>

Ewing served as an assistant with Houston, working under Van Gundy's brother, Jeff, when Jeff was with the Rockets. "This amazes me," reiterated Stan Van Gundy. "All these names out there and they're not talking about him." He said Ewing, along with his tutoring of Howard, is organized and prepared. "I'm bewildered that one of the absolute greats in the New York Knicks' organization. . . . and they're not talking about him at all."<o:p> </o:p>

Magic General Manager Otis Smith said the Knicks or any other team would need permission to speak to any of his coaches.

April 29, 2008 -- Despite his reputation as a mediocre defensive coach, Mike D'Antoni is on Donnie Walsh's radar for the Knick opening if D'Antoni is fired by the Suns after the first round, according to a source close to the Knick president.

Meanwhile, veteran coach Paul Silas told The Post last night he plans on contacting Walsh in the next few days with interest in interviewing for the Knick job. Silas was a Knick assistant for 10 seasons, but hasn't been a head coach since being fired by Cleveland in 2005.

Though Walsh's interview with lead candidate Mark Jackson last Thursday went well, the source said Walsh has made definite plans to wait until after the first round to see what transpires.

In other words, no Jax press conference this week.

In fact, as reported first by the Post's Peter Vecsey on Sunday, Jackson has lined up an interview with the Bulls for tomorrow.

"He wants to see how the playoffs unfold," the source said of Walsh. "Mark could still very well get the job, but even if you're 90 percent sure, you don't want to just hand him the job right away."

Walsh has now zeroed in on four coaches on the hot seat - D'Antoni, Toronto's Sam Mitchell (whose club was eliminated last night), Dallas' Avery Johnson and Detroit's Flip Saunders.

All four could be fired if they lose in the first round, with D'Antoni already being rumored to land in Toronto to replace Mitchell.

Walsh is close with George Karl and he'd be considered strongly too, but has been told the Nuggets are expected to keep him for next season even if swept.

The Knick don't consider the Bulls a serious threat to hire Jackson. The Bulls are conducting a massive and marathon search.

In 2000, Walsh didn't hire Isiah Thomas in Indiana until July. League executives and agents say Walsh is extremely meticulous in making decisions. The last Knick coaching search took three months, when Thomas waited for Larry Brown to get himself fired.

"Waiting is the right thing to do," one league executive who's close to Walsh said. "You want to see what your options are."