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Dawn Staley Is Being Mentioned For NBA Coaching Job

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Jun 28, 2025 4:59 PM ET

Dawn Staley has suddenly emerged as a potential candidate for one of the most intriguing jobs in the NBA.

Since taking over South Carolina's basketball team in 2008, Staley has proven herself as an elite coach. She has won three national titles and has made it to the Final Four a whopping seven times over the past decade alone.

Even though Staley hasn't shown any interest in leaving South Carolina, she's apparently on the New York Knicks' radar. This was first reported by Knicks Fan TV on Saturday.

"According to league sources, both Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown are headed for a second round of interviews. Micah Nori is still being considered. The Knicks have also reached out to South Carolina HC Dawn Staley about the job," Knicks Fan TV wrote.

Staley has no NBA coaching experience, but her résumé warrants an interview at the minimum.

Interestingly enough, Staley wouldn't owe South Carolina any money if she were to accept a coaching job from an NBA team.

"It was important for me to have a guaranteed contract, but to have a guaranteed contract you have to give them something," Staley said, via Greenville News. "I will never leave here to coach another college job. I have the best of the best here."

Back in 2021, Staley talked about the pressure the first-ever female NBA head coach would face.

"A lot of people would be out there, just waiting for you to make a mistake, waiting for you to be wrong," Staley said. "There's a whole dynamic that men, white or Black, just don't have to think about. It's a female thing. The expectation will be so much greater than the male coach. So much greater."

If Staley were to become the next head coach of the Knicks, there'd be even more pressure on her shoulders since the team is built to contend for a title.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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