Jeff Hornacek hired as Knicks coach after 32-50 season

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks have hired Jeff Hornacek, who emerged last month as Phil Jackson's surprising coaching choice.

Jackson went with the former Phoenix Suns coach over anyone who had played or worked under him, even though he had said after the season he would likely pick somebody he already knew.

Hornacek takes over a Knicks team that went 32-50 last season, missing the playoffs for the third straight season. The Knicks finished the season with Kurt Rambis as interim coach after Jackson fired Derek Fisher in February.

"Jeff has a tremendous basketball acumen and possesses strong leadership skills," Jackson said today in a statement. "During his career as both a player and coach, he has demonstrated the ability to elevate the game."

The two discussed the job in mid-May but took more than two weeks to complete a contract. The Knicks plan to introduce Hornacek, the 28th coach in franchise history, at a news conference Friday.