The Jax ax finally fell on Woody.
Mike Woodson, after last season delivering the Knicks their first Atlantic Division title since 1993-94, was let go as head coach Monday in a move that was anticipated even prior to Phil Jackson taking over as president last month.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Woodson and his entire staff,” Jackson said in a press release. “The coaches and players on this team had an extremely difficult 2013-14 season, and blame should not be put on one individual. But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and beyond.”
Woodson, who met with Jackson early Monday, was packing his belongings at the training facility in Greenburgh and declined comment.
“I’ve got to clear my head first before making any comments,” Woodson told The Post.
The rest of the coaching staff — assistants Jim Todd, Herb Williams, Darrell Walker and LaSalle Thompson, plus shooting coach Dave Hopla — also were relieved of their duties by Jackson. According to a source, Jackson did not bother speaking to the assistant coaches, and the staff came in to collect their things after Woodson got the word. Williams, though, may rejoin the next coach’s staff.
Steve Kerr has emerged as the frontrunner, with a source telling The Post’s George Willis last week Kerr “absolutely expects” to get the offer and that he would accept it if offered. Jackson may not be in a big hurry, though, as another top candidate, Thunder backup point guard Derek Fisher, could be in for a long playoff run.
Woodson had one season left on his pact at about $3.3 million, but his ouster was a foregone conclusion when Jackson came aboard, looking to bring in his own staff. Aside from Kerr and Fisher — both of whom played for Jackson but have no head-coaching experience — Jackson could look at Ron Harper, Jim Cleamons, Bill Cartwright and Kurt Rambis, more likely to fill out a triangle-themed staff.
Fans first started chanting “Fire Woodson’’ in November when the Knicks sputtered to a 3-13 start. But Knicks owner James Dolan stuck it out with Woodson, who closed on a 16-5 run. But their 37-45 record wasn’t good enough for the playoffs.
Woodson’s record as Knicks coach in his 2 ½ seasons finishes at 109-79. His .580 winning percentage ranks third in franchise history behind Pat Riley (.680) and Jeff Van Gundy (.590).
In recent days, Woodson alluded to the season’s troubles stemming from training camp.
A source told The Post that Woodson was rocked by the firing of general manager Glen Grunwald, his buddy and former Indiana University teammate, four days before training camp and may not have regained his equilibrium.
“Coming out of camp, we weren’t sharp based on the injuries,” Woodson said last week. “It was an ugly camp. I didn’t feel good about where we were as a basketball team. We didn’t get much out of camp. I didn’t have the bodies to push guys where they needed to be, whereas the year before, everyone was flying around.’’
Woodson was 18-6 in his first season in 2011-12 after being promoted from defensive assistant when Mike D’Antoni resigned. Woodson then guided the Knicks to a 54-28 record last season, earning the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and finishing third in Coach of the Year voting. However, the Knicks’ second-round playoff ouster by the Pacers didn’t sit well with Dolan, who felt Woodson was outcoached by Frank Vogel.