“Dawn Staley Discusses Potential Knicks Coaching Opportunity”

The New York Knicks made a significant coaching change this offseason, parting ways with Tom Thibodeau and hiring Mike Brown as his replacement. Before landing on Brown, however, the Knicks conducted a wide-ranging search—and one of the most intriguing names to surface was South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley.

Staley’s inclusion was surprising to some, not because she lacked credentials, but because no NBA team has ever hired a woman as head coach. Ultimately, New York went in a different direction, but Staley recently opened up about the experience, making it clear she would have accepted the job if offered.

Speaking on the Post Moves podcast with Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston, Staley revealed:

“I interviewed for the Knicks. It was the same interview that everybody else in their candidate pool got. … I thought I did pretty well. I was well prepared. If the Knicks would’ve offered me the job, I would’ve had to do it. Not just for me—it’s for women. To break open that. And it’s the New York Knicks. I’m from Philly, but it’s the freakin’ New York Knicks.”

Staley also reflected on a moment she believes may have hurt her chances. During the interview, she asked how hiring the NBA’s first female head coach might impact the front office’s day-to-day responsibilities:

“Because it would. You’re going to be asked questions you wouldn’t face if you hired a male coach. There’s going to be media, there’s going to be all this stuff you’ll have to deal with that you don’t otherwise. That got them to thinking. … I felt the energy change after that. So I shot myself in the foot by being inquisitive, asking all those darn questions.”

Despite not landing the Knicks job, Staley remains in an enviable position. Since taking over South Carolina in 2008, she has built the Gamecocks into a powerhouse, amassing a 475–110 record and winning three NCAA championships.

While New York wasn’t the right fit this time, Staley’s name could resurface in future NBA coaching discussions. Given her track record, it may only be a matter of time before another opportunity comes along.