South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley revealed that if the New York Knicks had offered her their head coaching job, she would have accepted it. Staley formally interviewed with the franchise for the position, later explaining on the Post Moves podcast with Aliyah Boston and Candace Parker that the opportunity to coach at the next level would have been too significant to pass up.
“I would have had to do it, not just for me, but for women. To break that door open,” Staley said. “It’s the New York Knicks. I’m from Philly. But it’s the freaking New York Knicks.”
During the interview, Staley admitted she may have hurt her chances to land the job by asking tough questions about how the organization would handle the hiring of the first full-time female head coach in NBA history. She pressed the Knicks' leadership on whether they were fully prepared for the added media attention and challenges that would come with breaking such a barrier.
“You’re going to be asked questions that don’t come up if you’re a male coach,” Staley explained. “There’s going to be extra attention, and you have to be ready for it. That made them think, ‘Maybe she’s right.’ I felt the energy shift after that. I probably shot myself in the foot by being inquisitive and asking those questions.”
Ultimately, the Knicks chose Mike Brown to fill the role, but Staley's interview underscored her willingness to challenge barriers and her recognition of what such a groundbreaking hire would mean for women in sports.