Report: Dawn Staley linked to New York Knicks head coaching search

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has been linked to the New York Knicks’ head coaching search, according to a report from Knicks Fan TV. The franchise has been looking for a replacement for Tom Thibodeau since his firing earlier this month.

According to the report, the Knicks reached out to Staley about the position. The team is also reportedly considering names such as Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown for a second round of interviews.

New York has cast a wide net in its search to replace Thibodeau, who was let go following an Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks requested multiple interviews – including with the Chicago Bulls’ Billy Donovan, Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd and the Atlanta Hawks’ Quin Snyder – but teams blocked those inquiries.

Staley has won three national championships at South Carolina after taking over the Gamecocks in 2008, most recently doing so in 2024. USC has made seven Final Four appearances during her tenure, including five in a row, and won nine SEC tournaments. All told, Staley has a 475-110 overall record in Columbia, including a 214-56 mark in conference play.

Dawn Staley ‘passionate’ about college coaching

In January, Dawn Staley signed a new contract at South Carolina, which runs through the 2029-30 season. Under the terms of the deal, she will make $4 million annually, along with a $250,000 annual escalator. However, she wouldn’t owe a buyout if she chose to leave the program.

Despite the clause in the contract, Staley confirmed in February she doesn’t plan to leave the program when asked about whether she’d coach in the WNBA. Instead, she wants to set South Carolina players up for success at the next level – a role she sees is crucial in a college coach.

“I think the impact, for me, is more in line with what I’m passionate about, and that’s young people,” Staley said on SiriusXM College Sports Radio. “That’s sort of like protecting our league, the WNBA, to make sure that … whoever comes from South Carolina, is prepared to handle all of it – the good, the bad, the ugly. Being a starter, being someone that has to come off the bench as a contributor. Being someone that never plays, but still handles that role like a pro.

“I want them to listen to their vets. I want them to be someone a coach can really rely on, no matter what role that they play. And I do think college coaches play a role in protecting our game at the next level.”