Mike Woodson thanks Knicks owner James Dolan for his luck in Indiana

Mike Woodson profusely thanked Knicks owner James Dolan for letting him go out of his contract to land his dream job as head coach at his alma mater, Indiana University.

Woodson last guided the Knicks in the playoffs in 2012-13 with a 54-game winning season and was brought back this summer to join Tom Thibodeau’s squad as a specialist defense assistant.

“I want to thank my Knick family for allowing me to quit my contract and come home,” Woodson said Monday morning during his introductory press conference. “Jim Dolan has a bad reputation in New York. But he was a great owner for me. It allowed me to be a head coach and it allowed me to come back as an assistant. I want to thank (President) Leon Rose, Wes (Wesley) Scott Perry and Tom Thibodeau who is a great coach. Their beautiful staff that they have assembled in New York has enabled me to do what I do now. They didn’t have to do that. I think them from the bottom of my heart. Everyone in this Knicks organization is first class. “

The Post reported that Senior Vice President William Wesley pushed for the hiring of Woodson, Kenny Payne and Johnnie Bryant – who neither knew Thibodeau. All three have drawn attention for college openings, but Payne (DePaul) and Bryant (University of Utah) will remain.

Andy Greer, Thibodeau’s longtime assistant, is expected to move to the front row of the bench. Greer was in the front row when Woodson missed a trip to the West Coast for personal reasons. The first row of the bench is considered a status symbol.