I heard about this Thursday night about the 76ers and Dawn Staley...
The most intriguing candidate for the vacant Sixers head-coaching job?
That’s obvious. A charismatic college coach with deep local ties. One who understands the challenges of coaching in a rabid Northeast sports city. One who was coach of the year. Won a national championship.
Last year, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that “there’s no reason why women shouldn’t be coaching men’s basketball” and that, eventually, he wanted half the league’s 30 head coaches to be women.
Staley texted me Wednesday and indicated she’d rather be in the stands than on the bench: “As much as I love my Sixers, I’d much rather experience the highs and lows as a fan. ... Fans will experience running down Broad Street, like we did in ’83, in the future.”
That’s understandable. It’s understandable, too, that the Sixers situation — high expectations; petulant veteran, unstable leadership — might not be the best environment for success for Staley, or a similar female coach with her profile. Nevertheless, the Sixers should at least call. It’s how relationships are built and how future candidacies are fostered.
Sixers general manager Elton Brand declined to comment on the search, which is expected to take several weeks, but a league source said the team will consider at least one woman for the position. There are several from whom to choose: Spurs assistant Becky Hammon, Mavericks assistant Jenny Boucek, Clippers assistant Natalie Nakase, Cavaliers assistant Lindsay Gottlieb. I like Staley.
The Sixers should interview Dawn Staley for head coach | Marcus Hayes
Commissioner wants female head coaches? Well, Staley is a Philly legend, a top-20 all-time player, and she might be an even better coach. The town would be clamoring for her — if she were a man.
www.inquirer.com
The most intriguing candidate for the vacant Sixers head-coaching job?
That’s obvious. A charismatic college coach with deep local ties. One who understands the challenges of coaching in a rabid Northeast sports city. One who was coach of the year. Won a national championship.
Last year, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that “there’s no reason why women shouldn’t be coaching men’s basketball” and that, eventually, he wanted half the league’s 30 head coaches to be women.
Staley texted me Wednesday and indicated she’d rather be in the stands than on the bench: “As much as I love my Sixers, I’d much rather experience the highs and lows as a fan. ... Fans will experience running down Broad Street, like we did in ’83, in the future.”
That’s understandable. It’s understandable, too, that the Sixers situation — high expectations; petulant veteran, unstable leadership — might not be the best environment for success for Staley, or a similar female coach with her profile. Nevertheless, the Sixers should at least call. It’s how relationships are built and how future candidacies are fostered.
Sixers general manager Elton Brand declined to comment on the search, which is expected to take several weeks, but a league source said the team will consider at least one woman for the position. There are several from whom to choose: Spurs assistant Becky Hammon, Mavericks assistant Jenny Boucek, Clippers assistant Natalie Nakase, Cavaliers assistant Lindsay Gottlieb. I like Staley.