Dawn Staley Reveals: Would Accept Coaching the Knicks, Historic Impact

Dawn Staley Reveals Details of Her Interview with the Knicks

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley shared details about her interview for the New York Knicks head coaching position. Staley, who had a formal interview for the position, stated that she would have accepted the offer had she received it.

“I would have had to do it. Not just for me. For the women. To open that door,” Staley declared on the Post Moves podcast with WNBA star Aliyah Boston and former WNBA player Candace Parker. “I would have had to do it. It’s the New York Knicks. I’m from Philadelphia. But they’re the damn New York Knicks.”

Dawn Staley

Finally, the Knicks hired Mike Brown in early July to fill the head coaching vacancy.

Staley, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and who has led the Gamecocks to three national championships, explained that she felt well-prepared and had a good interview with the Knicks. However, on the podcast, she questioned whether her questions may have affected her chances.

“I would have had to do it. Not just for me. For the women. To open that door. I would have had to do it. It’s the New York Knicks. I’m from Philadelphia. But it’s the damn New York Knicks… I shot myself in the foot for… being inquisitive and asking all those questions.”

Dawn Staley, on the interview for the Knicks coaching position

Staley recounted that during the interview, she asked Knicks executives if they had fully considered, and if they were prepared for, how hiring the first full-time female coach in the NBA would change the organization. «How, if they hired me as the first [head] coach in the NBA, would that impact their daily work? Because I would,» Staley recalled asking during her interview with the Knicks. «They will be asked questions they don’t have to answer if they are male coaches. There will be the press and everything else they will have to deal with that they don’t have to deal with when they hire a man.» “That made them think, ‘Maybe she’s right.’ I felt the energy shift after that. So I shot myself in the foot for… being inquisitive and asking all those questions.” In addition to Staley, the Knicks spoke with former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, Pelicans assistant James Borrego, and Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori about the position before hiring Brown, who previously coached the Sacramento Kings.