Dawn Staley isn’t sure how tangible the idea is for a woman to become a head coach of an NBA franchise following her recent interview with the executive team of the New York Knicks.
The University of South Carolina (USC) basketball coach is a 2x Naismith College Player of the Year and a 6x WNBA All-Star. She has won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA, has been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and has led the USC women’s basketball team to four championship titles, to name a few.
During a recent Southeastern Conference press conference, Staley opened up about her experience as a candidate for the Knicks’ head coach position during the offseason.
Why did Dawn Staley accept an interview with the New York Knicks?
With Staley’s list of accomplishments and decades-long ties with team president Leon Rose and senior advisor William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley, she accepted the chance to interview for the open coaching role, according to ESPN.
“I did the Knicks interview because I’ve known Leon Rose for 30 years. And because of that, I’m a person that I need a connection to the people. Right?” she said. “So, I have a connection to him and ‘Worldwide Wes.’ So, I’ve known them all my life and it was a real interview, and I’d like to see what they’re talking about.”
Staley then mentioned that she will help any woman interested in pursuing a head coach role in the NBA, emphasizing that she’s not entirely opposed to taking a coaching job.
“If there is somebody that is interested in knowing and interested in being the first female NBA coach, I’ve got all the information,” she said. “Come see me, because I’ll get you prepared for the interview.”
Dawn Staley says it’s not enough for the NBA to simply want diversity
“If there are NBA franchises that are interested in hiring a female, I’m here, too, because you’ve got to be ready to take on that and all the things that it comes with because it’s not just hiring the first female coach,” Staley added despite an earlier note of she not really having “a whole lot” of interest any longer.
Before the league can see more women on the sidelines, the 55-year-old says teams have to toughen up to the pressure and bias that come with breaking that barrier.
“If I’m the Knicks coach and you have a five-game losing streak, it’s not going to be about the losing streak,” she explained. “It’s going to be about being a female coach. So, you as an organization and a franchise, you have to be prepared for that and strong enough to ensure those types of instances when you’re going to look or hire a female coach.”
Staley also admitted that she doesn’t think a woman will become an NBA coach in her lifetime, saying, “I hope I’m wrong.”