New York Knicks: 5 likely head coaching candidates to replace Fizdale
By Phil Watson
Jerry Stackhouse, head coach, Vanderbilt University
For a guy who is in just his fifth season as a coach, Jerry Stackhouse has moved up the ladder very quickly.
Hired by Dwane Casey as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors in 2015, Stackhouse was given the reins for Toronto’s G League affiliate, Raptors 905, where he was the G League Coach of the Year in 2016-17 while leading 905 to the league championship, and posted a record of 70-30 in his two seasons.
Last season, Stackhouse was an assistant to J.B. Bickerstaff with the Memphis Grizzlies and in April of this year was named head coach at Vanderbilt University, signing a six-year deal.
He has the Commodores off to a 2-1 start this season, with wins over Southeast Missouri State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi before taking a one-point loss on Thursday at Richmond.
Stackhouse replaced Bryce Drew after the worst season in program history, a 9-23 disaster that included going 0-18 in Southeastern Conference play — the first winless team in the SEC in 65 years.
He would still have five years left on his deal at Vanderbilt, but for a chance at an NBA head coaching opportunity, Stackhouse might be willing to eat a buyout — or have the New York Knicks handle that for him.
Stackhouse got into coaching with a gap year after his NBA career concluded in 2013. Stackhouse played 18 seasons with eight teams, finishing with more than 16,000 career points and being selected for two All-Star games.
He is young enough that even the youngest of players on the Knicks roster would remember him as an NBA player, which could help gain a degree of credibility in the locker room.