Dawn Staley. Knicks
Getty
Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns in the Final Four game of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 04, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Dawn Staley stands tall as one of the greatest coaches in women’s basketball history. Which is why she felt it was significant when the New York Knicks interviewed her for the head coaching job.
Staley achieved a lot throughout her head coaching career since starting in 2000 with the Temple Owls. Even they didn’t win it all during her time there, they were a consistent NCAA Tournament squad.
It opened up her next opportunity with the South Carolina Gamecocks, which she embraced and didn’t look back. She elevated the program into elite status, forever cementing them in NCAA Tournament history with three national championships in 2017, 2022 and 2024.
Staley’s incredible success earned her a formal interview for the Knicks coaching job. Even she lost out on it as New York went on to hire Mike Brown, she understood the importance of her taking it if she got the offer instead.
“I would have had to do it. Not just for me. For women. To break [that door] open,” Staley said on the “Post Moves” podcast with WNBA star Aliyah Boston and former WNBA great Candace Parker, via ESPN. “I would have had to. It’s the New York Knicks. I’m from Philly. But it’s the freaking New York Knicks.”
“How, if you hired me as the first female [head] coach in the NBA, would it impact your daily job? Because it would,” Staley said she asked during her interview with the Knicks. “You’re going to be asked questions that you don’t have to answer if you’re a male coach. There’s going to be the media and all this other stuff that you have to deal with that you didn’t have to deal with and don’t have to deal with when you hire a male.
“That got them to thinking, ‘Maybe she’s right.’ I felt the energy change after that. So, I shot myself in the foot by … being inquisitive and asking all those darn questions.”
What Lies Ahead For Knicks
Mike Brown, Knicks
GettyHead coach of Mike Brown of the New York Knicks speaks to media during his introductory press conference at Knicks Training Facility on July 08, 2025 in Tarrytown, New York. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
As Dawn Staley mentioned, there hasn’t been a female head coach in the NBA’s entire history.
The closest has been Becky Hammon, who was an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs before taking the Las Vegas Aces’ head coaching job in the WNBA. Hammon even got an interview with the Portland Trail Blazers before losing the offer to Chauncey Billups.
Whoever is first will make unforgettable history. They will break the barrier for an area that can have so much potential, seeing female coaches be in the same spotlight as their male counterparts. For Staley, she is deserving of that opportunity but will have to wait after the Knicks passed on her in favor of Mike Brown.
Brown does bring a solid NBA resume to the table. He coached the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings throughout 11 seasons. They made the playoffs in seven of those campaigns, the furthest being in 2007 when he coached a young LeBron James and the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. They ended up losing to the San Antonio Spurs in a four-game sweep.
Brown has tweaked his coaching style over the years, using his time as an assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors from 2016 to 2022, where he won three titles. He embraced his next gig with the Kings, helping them end a long postseason drought to return to playoff action in 2023.
Brown is well aware of the Knicks’ expectations, which is competing for a championship. They are coming off of their best playoff run since 2000, making the Eastern Conference Finals. A lot of eyes will be on New York to be in the championship picture, something that Brown will want to firmly put on his head coaching resume.