Last-Place Knicks Fire GM, Coach

The New York Knicks fired General Manager Scotty Stirling and Coach Bob Hill in the wake of a 24-58 NBA season and a third straight last-place finish.

Stirling was hired in January, 1986 as a replacement for Dave DeBusschere as the team’s front-office boss, but the Knicks continued to founder and Stirling was under fire for a number of his trades.

Hill, the interim coach who took over after Hubie Brown was fired 19 games into this season, finished the season with six straight losses after the return of injured star forward Bernard King.

Richard Evans, president of Madison Square Garden, said he is reviewing candidates for both positions. Speculation for coach has centered on Rick Pitino, the Providence coach and a former assistant with the Knicks under Brown.