Mark Jackson has made no secret of his desire to coach again in the NBA. The former bench tactician has stated repeatedly that he is open to any coaching role, including at the college level, basically, wherever his experience is valued.
Jackson entered the league in 1987 as the 18th overall pick by the New York Knicks and won the Rookie of the Year award. His playing career spanned 17 seasons with seven different franchises: the Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers , Indiana Pacers , Denver Nuggets , Toronto Raptors , Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets . After retiring in 2004, he moved into broadcasting, working as a commentator and analyst.
That work led to his first and only NBA head coaching job with the Golden State Warriors . Since leaving Golden State, Jackson has continued to seek another opportunity.
As discussed earlier, the former Warriors head coach remains vocal about his readiness to return to coaching. In 2022, he was a finalist for the Sacramento Kings job before the team hired Mike Brown.
In a recent conversation with Rick Kleiman of Boardroom, Jackson spoke about the possibility of coaching again, and his tone suggested he believes another chance is coming.
"I expect somebody will want to win or want to change the culture so bad, that they'll understand the work that was done by, me, and my staff, and that incredible franchise. And give me a chance. And that's on any level. I'd coach college, I'd coach Pros. It doesn't matter. I love the idea of leading, and impacting, and changing, and winning," Jackson said.
Jackson was hired by Golden State in 2011 and led the team to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2013 and 2014. The Warriors went 51-31 during the 2013-14 season but lost to the Clippers in the first round. Thereafter, despite a 121-101 overall record, Jackson was fired after that series.
Steve Kerr replaced him and went on to win four championships with the Warriors. Some have credited Jackson with building the foundation for that success, which makes his continued absence from coaching all the more puzzling. Reports suggest his strong religious beliefs might be a factor. Moreover, allegations of homophobic behavior during his time with the Warriors have also surfaced.
In 2022, Jackson was linked to multiple head coaching vacancies after years of working at ESPN. He frequently discussed what he believed teams should prioritize in a head coach, making his thoughts clear on the right leadership and winning mentality. That momentum, though, stalled when reports about his tenure in Golden State resurfaced.
NBA insider Ethan Strauss published a detailed account that included troubling allegations. It described a locker room environment marked by division, with Jackson reportedly speaking negatively about team management to players. Sources also claimed Jackson increased the intensity of religious messaging late in his tenure, crossing a line that some saw as extreme.
One allegation even stated that Jackson accused staff members of being possessed by evil spirits. Two sources, as Strauss noted, claimed Jackson made disparaging comments about Jason Collins and team president Rick Welts, both openly gay, condemning them based on their sexuality.
The report shifted how Jackson was viewed around the league. His candidacy for head coaching jobs cooled quickly after that. Many see the allegations from his time with the Warriors as the reason why he hasn't received another opportunity.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
