The Kings are hiring Mike Woodson to serve as an associate head coach under Doug Christie for the 2025/26 season, sources inform Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Sam Amick of The Athletic reported over the weekend that the Kings were targeting Woodson for the role.
Woodson, a longtime NBA coach, most recently had served as the head coach at his alma mater, Indiana University, for the last four seasons.
Woodson got his first NBA experience as a player, serving an 11-year stint as a journeyman guard. He played on the Kings, during both their Kansas City and Sacramento iterations, from 1982-86. Five years after hanging up his sneakers for good, Woodson returned to the league as an assistant coach with the Bucks from 1996-99. He worked in that capacity with several squads through the Pistons’ 2003/04 title season before getting his first head coaching shot with the Hawks from 2004-10.
Woodson subsequently joined the Knicks, initially as an assistant, before taking over from 2012-14. He was then an assistant for the Clippers and again with the Knicks before departing for the head coaching gig with Indiana in 2021.
In the NBA, Woodson posted a 315-365 regular season record, plus an 18-28 playoff mark. He has led his squads to five playoff appearances during his nine years as a head coach, including three playoff series victories. Woodson went 82-53 in college and made the NCAA Tournament twice in four years.
Christie, a beloved former Sacramento player, recently had his interim head coaching tag removed and agreed to a multiyear deal with the club. Bringing in a seasoned NBA head coach to shore up Christie’s staff could be just what the doctor ordered, as Sacramento faces an uncertain future on the hardwood.
As Charania tweets, Woodson is Christie’s first formal hire in his new, long-term role. Christie is looking overhaul his bench, as assistant coaches Jay Triano, Jawad Williams, Riccardo Fois, Robbie Lemons, and Sam Logwood are all reportedly not returning next season. Assistant coach Leandro Barbosa, however, will be back.