Liberty hiring Warriors assistant as new head coach

The New York Liberty of the WNBA is hiring Golden State Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco as its new head coach, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN, via ESPN's Alexa Philippou.

DeMarco, who is also the current coach of the Bahamian men’s national team, had been with the Warriors since 2012, before Steve Kerr arrived in 2014. Initially a member of Mark Jackson's staff, DeMarco has held a variety of roles since being hired by Golden State, including working in the video room, as a scout, in player development positions, and as an assistant coach.

As Anthony Slater of ESPN reports, DeMarco was a front-office assistant this season and played a significant role in the Warriors’ defensive game-planning. He worked closely with Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole during their time with the team, per Philippou.

DeMarco was one of two current NBA assistants in the running for the Liberty job, along with Jama Mahlalela of the Raptors. Former Nets assistant Will Weaver was also among the finalists for the position, as was current Phoenix Mercury associate head coach Kristi Toliver, who was previously an assistant coach with the Wizards and Mavericks.

It’s unclear whether DeMarco will leave the Warriors immediately, given that WNBA training camps don’t open until April.