Knicks Expected to Hire Billy Lange as Player Growth Lead
NEW YORK, NY – The New York Knicks are poised to add Billy Lange to their coaching staff under new head coach Mike Brown, according to reports from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Jeff Borzello, and tim Bontemps. Lange,currently the head coach at Saint Joseph’s University,is expected to leave his collegiate position to oversee the Knicks’ player development program.
Lange brings a wealth of coaching experience spanning over two decades,primarily at the collegiate level.The New Jersey native began his coaching career in 1996, holding positions at several smaller programs before joining Villanova as an assistant coach from 2001-2004 under Jay Wright. He then served as the head coach at Navy from 2004-2011, before returning to Villanova as Wright’s associate head coach from 2011-2013.
He transitioned to the NBA in 2013, spending six seasons (2013-2019) as an assistant coach alongside Brett Brown with the Philadelphia 76ers. Lange returned to the NCAA in 2019, taking the helm at St. Joe’s where he has coached for the past six seasons.
According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, Lange’s expected role with the Knicks will mirror his responsibilities with the 76ers, focusing on player development while also contributing to offensive strategies.
The Knicks have been reshaping their coaching staff since Brown was hired to replace Tom Thibodeau. Chris Jent and Brendan O’Connor are slated to lead the offense and defense, respectively, and former Birmingham Squadron head coach T.J. Saint is also joining the team. New york is also retaining coaches Rick Brunson and Maurice cheeks from Thibodeau’s staff, and adding Charles Allen and Riccardo Fois, both player development assistants previously working with Brown in Sacramento.
