Following their search for a new head coach, the New York Knicks reportedly reached out to Dawn Staley, the highly successful women`s basketball coach at the University of South Carolina. However, according to reports from The Athletic, Staley is not considered a finalist for the vacant position.
Staley, recognized as one of the most accomplished figures in women`s basketball history as both a player and coach, is said to have made a positive impression during her discussions with the Knicks organization.
Jeremiah Donati, the athletic director at South Carolina, recently confirmed the Knicks` contact with Staley. He remarked to On3sports, “If I were them, I would have called her, too.”
Since taking the helm at South Carolina in 2008, the 55-year-old Staley has led the Gamecocks to remarkable success, including three national championships, an undefeated season in 2024, seven regional titles (five consecutively), nine regular season SEC titles, and nine SEC tournament titles.
Staley is a distinguished member of both the Women`s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Her coaching accolades also include guiding the U.S. women`s national team to a gold medal at the 2021 Olympics.
A particularly noteworthy achievement on Staley`s resume is her successful tenure coaching Temple University`s women`s team concurrently with the majority of her eight-year WNBA playing career. She excelled in both roles, earning six consecutive All-Star selections in the WNBA while simultaneously leading Temple to six NCAA Tournament appearances, three regular season conference titles, and four conference tournament championships.
The Knicks are seeking a new coach after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau following their defeat to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. The team has also reportedly spoken with candidates including Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins, Pelicans assistant James Borrego, and Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori. According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Mike Brown has received a second interview and is considered one of the top two candidates alongside Taylor Jenkins.
This instance isn`t the first time an NBA team has shown interest in Staley for a head coaching role. She previously interviewed with the Portland Trailblazers via Zoom in 2021 before they ultimately hired Chauncey Billups.
Jasper Hawthorne