Dawn Staley Discusses NBA Aspirations and Coaching Ambitions

Deeply committed to her coaching career, Dawn Staley revealed her openness to coaching in the NBA and her willingness to leave her position at South Carolina if the opportunity arose. During an interview on the “Post Moves” podcast with Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston, she shared that if she had been offered the head coaching role with the New York Knicks, she would have felt compelled to accept, partly to break barriers for women in the sport.

“If the Knicks had offered me the job, I would have had to accept. Not just for myself, but to open doors for women,” Staley explained. “It’s the New York Knicks, and I’m from Philly. It was a strong consideration.”

Though she impressed Knicks executives during her interview, she was not selected as a finalist. The team ultimately hired Mike Brown as their head coach after considering other candidates, including former NBA head coaches and assistants.

Staley emphasized that her decision to explore NBA coaching wasn’t solely about the position’s prestige but also centered on her motivations to challenge stereotypes. She asked the team questions about the significance of hiring a female coach and how such a move would impact their organization.

“I inquired about why I was in the candidate pool and whether the team’s history included inclusive leadership,” she said. “I asked how hiring me would affect their daily operations and the unique challenges that come with being the first woman in such a role. These questions made them think, and I believe it opened their eyes.”

At 55, Staley has been South Carolina’s women’s basketball head coach since 2008. She signed an extension through the 2029-30 season worth approximately $25.5 million, including a signing bonus, making her the highest-paid coach in women’s college basketball.

Her coaching record with the Gamecocks is impressive: nine SEC tournament titles, nine SEC regular-season titles, and seven Final Four appearances. She’s a four-time Naismith Coach of the Year and has secured three NCAA championships, tying her for third all-time among women’s college basketball coaches.