Liberty Hires Chris DeMarco as Head Coach
It’s official now. The Liberty have announced that Chris DeMarco is their new head coach. After a search that lasted over two months, they’ve named him as the assistant coach from the Golden State Warriors.
The Post was the first to report on DeMarco’s candidacy on November 18, and just three days later, he signed with the Liberty.
He’ll be introduced at a press conference set for December 10 at Barclays Center.
DeMarco expressed his enthusiasm in a statement, saying, “I am extremely honored to join the Liberty and am proud to help advance the standards this franchise has set for excellence on the court and strong ties to the community.” He further noted that working with some great players is a dream for any coach, and he’s eager to build on the culture that makes the Liberty special.
In a video shared on social media, key players like Brianna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu welcomed DeMarco. This is particularly reassuring for fans who might be concerned about their free agency decisions. Stewart added, “We’re ready, I’m ready to go after it. There’s no place like New York, and I can’t wait for you to feel the energy every day and night and know we’re working hard to get back to a championship.”
Previously, the Liberty let go of their title-winning coach Sandy Brondello on September 23 due to an inconsistent 2025 season which ended in a playoff loss to the Mercury. DeMarco, now 40, has won four championships during his 14 seasons with the Warriors. The announcement from Liberty highlighted that the Warriors had success by leading the league in net rating three times and maintaining a strong defensive presence over the past decade.
Liberty’s general manager, Jonathan Kolb, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating, “After thorough consideration, we couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Chris DeMarco as our head coach. Our goal was clear: to find a leader who can elevate our culture and bring a vision for this franchise’s future.”
Kolb added, “Chris is a proven winner whose approach has been shaped by over a decade in one of basketball’s most successful dynasties. His clarity, adaptability, and player development expertise will be invaluable as we strive to provide the best version of the New York Liberty.”
On another note, the WNBA is currently caught up in discussions over a new collective bargaining agreement, meaning offseason activities like the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire’s expansion draft are on hold until negotiations conclude.
But the Liberty can now move forward with their new head coach.
Owner Clara Wu Tsai remarked, “Today marks an exciting next chapter for the New York Liberty. Our mission has always been to deliver world-class basketball and the best fan experience in Brooklyn, which is why we continue to invest in attracting top talent in every area of our organization.”
