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Kenny Smith interviews for New York Knicks head coaching job

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 17: Former North Carolina Tar Heels basketball player Kenny Smith hosts the annual Late Night with Roy Williams basketball kickoff at the Dean Smith Center on October 23, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 17: Former North Carolina Tar Heels basketball player Kenny Smith hosts the annual Late Night with Roy Williams basketball kickoff at the Dean Smith Center on October 23, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Kenny Smith is interviewing for the New York Knicks head coaching job as he currently works as a studio analyst

Jerry Stackhouse isn’t the only former University of North Carolina standout that is getting an interview for a head coaching job.

Just a day after it was revealed that the New York Knicks were interviewing Stackhouse, another former UNC player is getting his chance. According to reports, current NBA on TNT host Kenny “The Jet” Smith is interviewing for the head coaching position of the Knicks.

Smith is set to interview with the organization on Friday and has no previous coaching experience.

He’s one of a few candidates revealed for the head coaching job as the organization is hoping to turn things around quickly. After another losing season, they decided to move on from Jeff Hornacek after two years.

The Knicks haven’t made the NBA Playoffs since the 2012-13 season and traded Carmelo Anthony just a few years ago.

The former UNC point guard is the father of current point guard K.J. Smith who joined the Tar Heels this past season. He had to sit out the 2017-18 season because of transfer rules but will play next year.

Kenny has been with Turner Sports since 1998 as a studio analyst. He’s one of the hosts of “Inside the NBA on TNT” along with Ernie Johnson, Shaq and Charles Barkley. He also does some color commentary for the NCAA Tournament.

Prior to Smith’s interview with the Knicks, his colleagues gave him some advice in an awesome segment following Thursday’s NBA Playoff games:

The Knicks have already met with candidates Mike Woodson, Mark Jackson and David Fizdale while on a West Coast trip, as well as Stackhouse on Tuesday. They plan on interviewing former Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt in New York next week.

Smith is a native of Queens, New York and interviewed for the Knicks General Manager job in 2008.

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For more on Smith, Stackhouse and other former UNC players in the NBA please check back with Keeping it Heel.

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