New York ? A month of drama for Larry Brown ended with him landing his “dream job.”

At an age when many people are pondering retirement, Brown moved ahead into yet another chapter of his itinerant coaching career Wednesday when his agent finalized a contract with the New York Knicks.

Brown, a former Kansas University coach, will sit alongside team president Isiah Thomas when the Knicks introduce the 22nd coach in franchise history at a news conference today at Madison Square Garden, where the buzz could be coming back after nearly a half-decade of mediocrity and malaise.

He’s taking over a team that’s fallen on hard times.

“To be honest with you, there hasn’t been one job where I didn’t feel like it was an unbelievable challenge,” Brown, 64, said Wednesday night. “Just look at my track record. I’ve taken over some woeful teams.”

Terms of Brown’s contract were not disclosed, but he is believed to have signed a five-year deal worth between $50 million and $60 million, which would make him the highest-paid coach in professional sports history.

“We’re all stealing,” Brown told the New York Daily News. “Coach (Dean) Smith gave me my first coaching job. I made $6,000 and I had to run the summer camp. I thought I was overpaid.”

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Long Beach, L.I., Brown returns to coach the team he grew up rooting for.

“I know what the New York Knicks mean to basketball, the city and what they mean to the league,” Brown said. “I know how passionate people are in this environment and how much they understand the game.

“I want badly for this thing to turn around. I’m going to do my very best.”

He’s excited to be working with Thomas.

“Isiah came in and sold my wife (Shelly). Every decision I’ve made has been on me. My wife has always said as long as Larry is happy we’ll live anywhere, but she really wants to be here.”