Bill Clinton congratulates Derek Fisher on becoming head coach of New York Knicks

The New York Knicks announced in a press conference on Tuesday that Derek Fisher would be the new head coach of the team.

Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, took to his Twitter account to congratulate Fisher on landing the position.

My good friend and fellow Arkansan @derekfisher & I now have one more thing in common: New York. Congratulations, D-Fish.
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) June 10, 2014

Fisher, who was born in Arkansas, met the former president as a high schooler when Clinton served as the state’s governor.

More from NBA

He attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for four years with a major in communications. He ended his tenure as the school’s all-time leader in points, assists and steals.

The pair met up again in 2011 when Fisher worked on ending the NBA lockout as union president of the NBPA.

Having the seal of approval from a former United States President is quite the feather in Fisher’s cap, regardless of what kind of relationship they may have. For someone who has never coached a day in his life, Fisher sure is getting a lot of praise for becoming coach of the Knicks.

Even so, the challenge of getting the Knicks back in the NBA playoffs is something Fisher welcomes with open arms.

“There will be a lot of talk about my inexperience as a head coach, and that is obviously factually true,” Fisher said on Tuesday. “I have never been a head coach in the NBA or in college or in high school — but I am experienced. Basketball is a game that I am experienced in. Playing, understanding, leading in, guiding in, helping another group achieve the greatest gift in the world as a professional athlete and that is being a champion. That I have experience in. And that’s the experience I plan on sharing with these players, sharing with this organization.”

Home/NBA