Dawn Staley, the revered head coach of the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team, just offered some insight about her unofficial interview with the New York Knicks. She talked about how thrilled she was to be named the head coach. A 55-year-old member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. On the women’s side, she already has made history by becoming the first Black woman to lead the Gamecocks to three national championships.
In a candid discussion on the “Post Moves” podcast, which features WNBA star Aliyah Boston and former WNBA great Candace Parker, Staley expressed her willingness to accept the role if offered. She talked about making history as the first woman head coach in NBA history to lead a team to the playoffs. She hopes this accomplishment would “kick [that door] down” for female leaders in the sporting industry.
During her interview, Staley posed a thought-provoking question to the Knicks’ management: “How, if you hired me as the first female [head] coach in the NBA, would it impact your daily job?” This question seemed to surprise the interviewers, as Staley could tell by their change in demeanor that they were still invigorated by the question.
After that, I really felt the energy shift,” she said. And here’s how that led them to considering, ‘Perhaps she is right. A few months later, I shot myself in the foot by … being inquisitive and asking all those darn questions.
Staley’s credentials as a coach are formidable. Since 2008, she has continued to command the Gamecocks and changed the face of the program. Today, they’re a perennial powerhouse in women’s basketball. Her accomplishments have earned her national recognition and acclaim, making her a sought after candidate for any coaching opening.
Staley recalled her own interview with the Knicks and said that preparation gave her confidence. Even though she felt she had done a great job in their negotiations. “I would have had to do it. Not just for me. For women. To break [that door] open. I would have had to. It’s the New York Knicks. I’m from Philly. But it’s the freaking New York Knicks,” she shared passionately.
Staley, who’s from Philadelphia, describes the intense emotional pull of the Knicks as a department. This connects profoundly into her reflections about taking the role. She is still very much committed to her work at South Carolina. Beyond all of those accomplishments, her role with the Knicks represents a watershed moment in her life’s work.
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