STAGE COACH

Hoyas gig may open door for Ewing, Knicks reunion

Patrick Ewing once made the jump from Georgetown to the Knicks. Don’t be shocked if history repeats.

For all the nostalgia Wednesday will bring when Georgetown officially introduces Ewing as its new coach at a news conference on campus, there’s evidence to suggest the Knicks legend hasn’t given up on his goal of becoming an NBA head coach. Returning to lead the Hoyas back to prominence could be that stepping stone.

Only last season, Ewing told The Post he didn’t believe returning as a college coach was in his future when asked about St. John’s hiring Chris Mullin.

Ewing said then that too much nonbasketball work was involved — with recruiting and alumni relations. Ewing also revealed Georgetown approached him 13 years ago before the school hired John Thompson III, but he politely declined interviewing for the job.

“Don’t want to go back to college,’’ Ewing told The Post in October 2015. “When [Chris] first got the job, I wished him luck except when he plays Georgetown. Chris is a great guy, very good friend. Naturally, I want to see him succeed.”

Ewing had a change of heart or saw, to borrow a phrase from Carmelo Anthony, “the writing on the wall.’’ After 14 years as an assistant with Washington, Houston, Orlando and Charlotte, Ewing sensed he wasn’t going to get his head-coaching break if things stayed status quo.

Last summer, he interviewed with the Sacramento Kings and lost out to Dave Joerger. In 2012, Ewing interviewed for the Charlotte coaching job for his buddy Michael Jordan, but the job went to former St. John’s assistant Mike Dunlap. A source said Jordan didn’t think Ewing had done enough homework on Charlotte’s roster.

The Knicks have had 10 head coaches since 2002, when Ewing retired as a player. The club hasn’t extended “The Big Fella’’ so much as an interview.

However, if Ewing has a modicum of head-coaching success at Georgetown and if Phil Jackson and his triangle are long gone, Ewing, 54, may have a chance one day at the Knicks’ throne.

Ewing’s relationship with owner James Dolan, according to sources, is fully repaired. The ovations he receives in his returns to the Garden are overwhelming. That Ewing didn’t get a courtesy interview last May with Jackson was solely the Zen Master’s call. Jackson chose Jeff Hornacek, on track for another 50-loss season.

Coincidently, Ewing was in Washington with the Hornets on Tuesday for his final act as Charlotte associate. He attended shootaround, said his goodbyes, gave a speech in the locker room and the players applauded.

Then Ewing was off to “The Hilltop’’ to meet with Georgetown officials.

Hornets coach Steve Clifford told re- porters he has seen Ewing handle the young players with aplomb when he’s coached summer league squads in Orlando and Charlotte. Clifford said Ewing has always been “very involved with game-planning.’’ But will he make it as a college coach with all it entails?

“He has a natural presence that’s very assertive as a head coach,’’ Clifford said. “You can see his coaching style come through very forcefully.”

Clifford, the former Knicks assistant, said Ewing’s résumé — in terms of the coaches he’s worked with and played for — is impeccable, starting in high school in Boston with Mike Jarvis and in college with John Thompson. Ewing played for Rick Pitino, Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy, and worked under both Van Gundys. He was also an assistant with Tom Thibodeau in Houston.

“They’re all similar — disciplined play and working in practice,’’ Clifford said. “That’s Pat’s background.’’

There’s a possibility Ewing’s introductory press conference on Wednesday will be attended by Riley and Van Gundy, according to insiders.

When Jeff Van Gundy offered Ewing the Rockets assistant job, Clifford said, “Patrick’s answer was: ‘I’ll come and coach, but I want to do everything Tom does, everything Steve does. I’m not coming to work guys out. I want to be doing everything.’

“... He loves coaching, communicating with the players. He’s put his time in for this opportunity.”

Indeed, he has — enough time that Ewing elected to give up on the NBA for now and attempt to lead the Hoyas, who have experienced two straight losing seasons, back to the NCAA Tournament. Ewing led Georgetown to its lone NCAA title — in 1984.

“I think it’s going to be like the old Hoyas,’’ Clifford said. “Patrick always said, ‘Nobody liked us and nobody liked to play against us.’ ”

That’s how the Knicks would like to be regarded one day, too.