Basketball coach Dawn Staley expresses her willingness to take up the New York Knicks job, had it been proposed to her.

Women's basketball coach, Dawn Staley, declares readiness to rewrite history with New York.

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2025 September 14 . 11:33 AM

2 min read

Coached Dawn Staley expresses she would have taken the offer to join the New York Knicks, given the... — Coached Dawn Staley expresses she would have taken the offer to join the New York Knicks, given the opportunity.

Basketball coach Dawn Staley expresses her willingness to take up the New York Knicks job, had it been proposed to her.

Dawn Staley's Historic Run and the New York Knicks' Head Coaching Position

Dawn Staley, a Hall of Fame coach with an impressive resume, has made history in the world of basketball on multiple occasions. Her latest milestone, however, came close to a historic first in the NBA.

Staley, who has reached seven Final Fours in the past decade at South Carolina, was one of the candidates interviewed for the New York Knicks' head coaching position. Her candidacy displayed the serious consideration NBA franchises are giving to elite women's coaches for top positions.

With a Hall of Fame resume that includes revitalizing Temple University and turning South Carolina into a powerhouse, Staley's qualifications were undeniable. She has won three national championships at South Carolina in 2017, 2022, and 2024, and holds numerous records, including nine regular-season titles, nine tournament championships, and a league-record 57-game conference win streak.

At Temple University, Staley's win-loss record was an impressive 172-80. In 2022, she became the first coach to beat Geno Auriemma, Tara VanDerveer, and Kim Mulkey in the same season. Staley has also led Team USA to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and has a perfect record across multiple stints as head or acting coach.

During her interview for the Knicks' position, Staley asked about how they would handle the spotlight of hiring the NBA's first female head coach. Despite the formal interview, the search results do not provide information about the other candidates interviewed alongside Staley for the position.

In the end, the Knicks ultimately hired Mike Brown as their head coach instead of Staley. However, Staley's candidacy marked a significant step forward in the recognition of women's coaches in the NBA.

Throughout her career, Staley has mentored stars such as A'ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, and Allisha Gray. She has been named National Coach of the Year five times and SEC Coach of the Year seven times. Staley is the winningest coach in South Carolina's history with a record of 475-109. Remarkably, Staley is the first person to win the Naismith Award as both a player and coach.

Despite missing out on the opportunity to make history with the Knicks, Staley confirmed that she would have accepted the head coaching position had it been offered to her. Regardless, her impact on the world of basketball continues to grow, and it won't be long before she makes history again.