Dawn Staley, the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, is now being mentioned as a possible candidate to lead the New York Knicks.

COLUMBIA, S.C. / NEW YORK CITY — In what would be one of the most groundbreaking moves in basketball history, Dawn Staley, head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball program, is now being floated as a possible candidate to lead the New York Knicks — a development that has electrified conversations across both the college and professional basketball landscapes.

Sources close to league executives confirmed that Staley’s name has surfaced in internal discussions within the Knicks organization as they explore future coaching scenarios. While there has been no official outreach yet, the idea of Staley becoming the first woman to serve as an NBA head coach is gaining traction — and New York could be the franchise bold enough to make it happen.

“Dawn Staley isn’t just a great coach — she’s a basketball visionary,” one NBA executive told The Athletic. “She has the leadership skills, basketball IQ, and presence to command any locker room — NBA included.”

After leading South Carolina to three national titles (2017, 2022, 2024), including a perfect season in 2023–24, Staley has cemented her place among the greatest coaches in college basketball history — men’s or women’s.

Her accolades include:

• 3× NCAA National Champion (Head Coach)
• 2× Naismith Coach of the Year
• 2024 SEC Coach of the Year
• 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist (Head Coach, Team USA)
• Over 500 career wins
• 13 straight NCAA tournament appearances

Beyond the wins, Staley has become known for her charismatic leadership, intense defensive philosophies, and deep connection with players — traits that NBA front offices increasingly value.

The Knicks are reportedly seeking a coach with a strong culture-building background, someone who can handle both on-court development and off-court pressure — and few coaches in any sport have Staley’s ability to:

• Command respect from players and media alike
• Develop young talent and hold veterans accountable
• Elevate underdog rosters into dominant forces
• Handle high-pressure, big-market scrutiny with poise

Staley’s fierce, no-nonsense demeanor and proven record of excellence make her a compelling potential fit for Madison Square Garden.

“If you want a coach who can lead and change a franchise’s culture, you don’t get much better than Dawn,” said ESPN analyst Monica McNutt.

Of course, Staley’s leap to the NBA would be unprecedented. No woman has ever held a full-time NBA head coaching position. However, momentum is building:

• Becky Hammon served as an assistant with the Spurs before taking over the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
• Teresa Weatherspoon and Lindsey Harding have been climbing NBA assistant coaching ranks.
• The NBA Players Association has publicly endorsed female coaching candidates in recent years.

If anyone is equipped to be the first, it’s Staley, whose career has been defined by breaking barriers — from her days as a decorated point guard to Olympic success to coaching domination in the SEC.

If Staley were to take an NBA job, it would undoubtedly be a seismic shift in college basketball. South Carolina’s program has become synonymous with her name, and her departure would send shockwaves through:

• Recruiting pipelines
• SEC competitive balance
• Gamecock national title hopes in 2025 and beyond

However, insiders believe that Staley is deeply loyal to the program and her players, and she has turned down numerous overtures in the past — including offers from Power Five men’s teams and professional franchises.

“Dawn has built something generational at South Carolina,” said one SEC assistant coach. “But if the NBA calls — especially the Knicks — it’s a different conversation.”

When asked about the rumors following a recent offseason practice, Staley smiled and offered a classic response:

“I coach basketball. Doesn’t matter where. But right now, I coach the South Carolina Gamecocks. That’s all I’m focused on.”

She didn’t say no.

The mere possibility of Dawn Staley coaching the New York Knicks — or any NBA team — is a sign of how far the game has come, and how deeply respected she has become across the basketball universe.

Whether it’s just speculation or the beginning of a barrier-shattering pursuit, one thing is clear: Dawn Staley’s impact is too big to be confined to just one level of the sport.

And if the Knicks are serious about changing the culture, they might just call the greatest winner in college basketball to lead them into the future.