The New York Knicks are reportly exploring a historic hire: legendary South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley. According to Knicks Fan TV and Fullcourtpass, the Knicks have "reached out" to Staley to gauge her interest in their head coaching position. If (and that is a strong "if") she took the job, it would be an unprecedented move that would make her the NBA's first female head coach.
Staley's reputation certainly procedes her, as both a Hall-of-Fame player and one of the most successful coaches in college basketball. She has led the Gamecocks since 2008 with three NCAA titles (2017, 2022, and 2024) and seven Final Four appearances. Her coaching brilliance has earned her a historic contract extension at South Carolina as well, making her one of the highest paid coaches in women's college basketball.
Speaking of which, her contract does allow for an NBA or WNBA move without penalty, though leaving for another college coaching position would have financial consequences. Staley was asked about her contract terms after the 101-60 win Oklahoma at Colonial Life Arena several months ago.
"It's a give and take," Staley said. "It was important for me to have a guaranteed contract, but to have a guaranteed contract you have to give them something. I will never leave here to coach another college job. I have the best of the best here. I really don't have a passion for the next level, I don't. I would have been gone, seriously. So to have it in there, it was just something fancy to have (a reporter) ask me that question."
It is doubtful that Staley would make such a move, but hiring a coach of her caliber would spark a seismic shift in culture in pro sports, rewriting the NBA norms. However, Staley's current dominance in the college ranks and her deep roots in South Carolina may ultimately define her path.