After an extensive search lasting almost eight weeks, the Liberty has chosen its new head coach.
The franchise is finalizing an agreement with Chris DeMarco, an assistant coach for the Warriors and a four-time NBA champion, to take over from Sandy Brondello, as confirmed on Friday.
At 40, DeMarco becomes the 10th head coach in the team’s history and the third appointed by general manager Jonathan Kolb.
It’s quite a high-pressure situation, really—DeMarco is stepping into a role where winning is expected almost immediately.
In the final phases of the search, DeMarco emerged as the top choice. Kolb was impressed by his championship experience, deep understanding of both offensive and defensive strategies, and history of handling critical coaching scenarios, leading him to believe DeMarco is the right person to usher in a new phase of Liberty basketball.
Having been the longest-serving member of the Warriors’ coaching staff, DeMarco worked his way up to become the right-hand man to Steve Kerr. His journey started as a video intern, transitioning to a full-time video coordinator in 2012. Over the years, he has held various roles, including senior scout and director of player development, contributing to the Warriors’ success in winning four championships in the past decade.
Currently, DeMarco commands a Warriors defense that ranks among the top ten in the NBA this season.
Coming from Appleton, Wisconsin, DeMarco has spent considerable time observing Stephen Curry’s style of play, as well as how opponents defend against him. This experience could translate well for Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu, potentially taking her game to new heights.
Since 2019, he has also been the head coach of the Bahamas men’s national team, which has connections to Liberty center Jonquel Jones.
Notably, Buddy Hield, a close friend of Jones, played a role in bringing DeMarco on board after they met during NBA All-Star weekend in 2017.
Under DeMarco’s guidance, the Bahamas team, featuring players like Hield, Eric Gordon, and Deandre Ayton, clinched the 2023 South American Olympic Qualifier, coming just one win away from securing a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics—making this a remarkable milestone for a nation that has never appeared in the Olympics before.
While DeMarco is recognized as a coach focused on defense, he has also been involved with various offensive schemes, most prominently the Warriors’ read-and-react offense.
This past summer, he worked with consultant Noah LaRoche to help integrate the Miami Heat’s fast-paced offense, which relies heavily on off-ball movement and strategic cuts to put pressure on defenses.
DeMarco’s experience in player development, particularly his contributions that led to Jordan Poole’s breakout during the 2021-22 season, significantly bolstered his candidacy for the Liberty position.
Kolb concluded that the team needed new voices and insights to remain at the cutting edge of the WNBA’s evolution.
Thus, he believed DeMarco was a fitting choice.
Although DeMarco lacks WNBA experience, it might be beneficial for the Liberty to pair him with someone familiar with the league—perhaps a former player—similar to how Christy Tolliver has supported Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts.
Other finalists for the Liberty position included Tolliver, Raptors assistant coach Jama Mahlalela, and former Nets assistant coach Will Weaver.
