Dawn Staley Open to Knicks Coaching Position

Dawn Staley, head coach of the South Carolina women’s basketball team, expressed her willingness to take on the head coaching role for the New York Knicks if it were offered to her. Staley, at 55, had previously interviewed for the position but saw Mike Brown take the job in July.

“I would have had to do that. Not just for me, but for women,” Staley remarked in a podcast, referring to the significance of being the first female head coach in the NBA. She acknowledged her Philadelphia roots but also described the Knicks as “the weird New York Knicks.”

Staley was one of several candidates the Knicks considered. Others included James Borrego, formerly of the Charlotte Hornets, Taylor Jenkins from the Memphis Grizzlies, and Mika Neelli, who is an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

While discussing her interview experience, Staley noted she felt confident about how it went, but reflected on whether she had jeopardized her chances by asking how the Knicks would manage the implications of hiring a female head coach. “If you hire me as the first female head coach in the NBA, will that affect your daily job?” was one question she raised, considering the different media and additional scrutiny that might not apply to male candidates.

After posing such tough questions, she sensed a shift in the interview’s atmosphere. “So I was curious and stepped in by asking all the horrifying questions,” she explained, although it was clear she was concerned about the reaction it might have stirred.

Staley is a highly regarded figure in college basketball, having clinched three national championships and reached seven Final Fours. Her career record stands impressively at 647-190, showcasing a winning rate of .773. Before leading the Gamecocks, she spent eight seasons coaching at Temple and is now entering her 18th season at South Carolina.