Why Dawn Staley Believes a Female NBA Head Coach Is Still a Distant Dream

Dawn Staley’s summer was anything but ordinary . The powerhouse behind South Carolina’s basketball reign—already a three-time national champ—stepped into the intense spotlight as a serious contender for the New York Knicks head coaching gig after Tom Thibodeau’s exit in June. Though the Knicks eventually went with seasoned NBA vet Mike Brown, Staley’s candidacy cracked open the glass ceiling conversation like never before . At the SEC media days, she didn’t sugarcoat it: the chance of a woman clinching an NBA head coach role anytime soon? Slim, and that truth stings. What makes Staley’s journey so raw and real is her sharp awareness of the unique scrutiny female coaches face in men’s pro hoops—a scrutiny that goes way beyond wins and losses. Still, she’s here to guide and prepare the next trailblazers, with no illusions but plenty of grit . Now, as she hones in on her 18th season leading the Gamecocks—ranked No. 2 nationally—her story pulses with resilience, ambition, and the slow-burning hope for change that feels long overdue. LEARN MORE

It was an interesting offseason for Dawn Staley.

The three-time national champion head coach of South Carolina was a candidate for the New York Knicks coaching job after Tom Thibodeau was fired in early June. She interviewed with the Knicks front office this summer, but New York decided to hire longtime NBA coach Mike Brown.

At SEC media days Tuesday, Staley was asked whether she expected a woman to be hired as an NBA head coach in her lifetime. She isn’t optimistic.

“I don’t,” Staley said. “And I hope I’m wrong.”

When interviewing for the Knicks position, Staley was appreciative that president Leon Rose and executive vice president William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley acknowledged the complications of hiring a female coach for the position. Unlike a traditional candidate, there would be heightened scrutiny for Staley and other women who find themselves in that position. An organization looking to make this type of hire needs to look at the process differently.

“It’s not just hiring the first female coach,” Staley said. “Because one, if I’m the Knicks coach and you have a five-game losing streak, it’s not going to be about the losing streak. It’s going to be about being a female coach. So you as an organization and a franchise, you have to be prepared about that and strong enough to endure those types of instances when you’re a female coach.”

Staley was also asked about her individual desire to be a trailblazer as a female head coach in men’s basketball spaces.

“Not really a whole lot,” Staley said. “I did the Knicks interview because I’ve known Leon Rose for 30 years. I have a connection to him and Worldwide Wes. I’ve known them all my life. It was a real interview, and I like to see what they’re talking about.”

In her response, Staley urged her colleagues to seek her advice when pursuing coaching opportunities in the NBA and men’s college basketball.

“If there’s somebody that’s interested in knowing and being the first female NBA coach, I got all the information,” Staley said. “Come see me because I’ll get you prepared for the interview. If there are NBA franchises that are interested in hiring a female, I’m here too because you have to be ready to take on that and all the things that come with it.”

Staley now turns her attention to her 18th season at South Carolina. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press preseason poll behind defending champion UConn. The program announced this week that All-America honorable mention Chloe Kitts will miss the entire season with a torn ACL.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

New York Knicks, South Carolina Gamecocks, NBA, WNBA, Sports Business, Women’s College Basketball, women’s college basketball

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