This summer, Dawn Staley, the legendary South Carolina women’s basketball coach and Naismith Hall of Famer, confirmed that she formally interviewed with the New York Knicks for their vacant head-coaching position and made clear she would have gladly accepted the role if offered .
On the “Post Moves” podcast with Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston, Staley shared how she approached the interview as she would any other well-prepared, confident, and thoughtful . “If the Knicks would’ve offered me the job, I would’ve had to do it,” she stated, emphasizing that her motivation extended far beyond personal ambition: “Not just for me, it’s for women. To break open that door” .
However, Staley acknowledged that one particular moment during the interview might have undermined her chances. Candidly, she asked the organization how they intended to manage the media scrutiny and operational pressures that would inevitably follow the hiring of the NBA’s first full-time female head coach. The line of questioning, she believed, caused a perceptible shift in the tone of the interview. Reflecting on it, she said, “I shot myself in the foot by being inquisitive, asking all those darn questions” .
Despite not being named a finalist with the Knicks ultimately hiring veteran coach Mike Brown, league insiders indicated that Staley left a strong impression on team leadership .
Staley’s experience underscores a broader reality: it’s not the coach who must prove readiness but rather, the organization and the league must be prepared for the historic implications of breaking such glass ceilings. Her words resonate not only as personal reflections but also as a powerful commentary on how the NBA must evolve to truly embrace trailblazing leadership.
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