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On Wednesday, the New York Liberty formally introduced the franchise’s new head coach, Chris DeMarco.
But more than an introduction, the press conference, which was attended by Liberty players Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Nyara Sabally and Isabelle Harrison, served as an opportunity for both general manager Jonathan Kolb and DeMarco to, indirectly, answer (or substantiate) criticisms.
While DeMarco possesses more than 13 years of NBA assistant coaching experience, all accrued with the four-time champion Golden State Warriors, in addition to serving as the head coach of the Bahamas’ men’s national team since 2019, he lacks any high level experience coaching women’s basketball.
To put it uncharitably, DeMarco profiled as a coach who suddenly recognized the WNBA as viable, respected opportunity, seeing the WNBA no longer as the NBA’s secondary, subordinate little sister but as a distinct, rising entity with jobs no longer beneath an accomplished NBA lifer.
DeMarco, certainly aware of critiques both scathing and more sympathetic, was ready to demonstrate his longstanding and growing appreciation of the WNBA. The new head coach, who will remain in his role with the Warriors until Jan. 1, shared:
We had three games in four nights, so I still am doing my assistant coaching role with the Golden State Warriors. But any free time I have, I’m pouring into this. I’ve probably ordered every book on the New York Liberty like you can find online. I’ve always watched as a fan, right? So now I have to shift my focus and watch as a coach. So there’s a lot to go back and watch, but massive basketball fan and I love every second of it, so continue to lean into that. Continue to learn about the history of the WNBA, the history of the Liberty and like, as we enter the 30th season WNBA and the franchise, like, it’s just a really exciting time.
DeMarco’s claim that he has “ordered every book on the New York Liberty” sounds a bit silly, and certainly raised eyebrows across social media.
But, he is in an admittedly awkward position. As an outsider who, due to his prior experiences and identity, sparks the suspicions of longtime women’s basketball fans and analysts, DeMarco recognizes that he needs to show that he is committed to integrating himself into the culture of the WNBA. He needs to show that he understands and values the history of the league and the Liberty. He needs to show that, while he might be new to this, he intends to be true to this.
He comments, still, came off as those of an over-the-top try hard. It’s fair to extend him some grace for making the overcompensatory effort, even if it was a bit cringey and goofy.
DeMarco further signaled his investment in his new opportunity, saying it was a “no-brainer” to accept a role in a “world-class organization.” He emphasized, “I’m absolutely honored to be in a head coaching role in the WNBA…it’s really exciting. It’s where I want to be…I get a chance to coach the greatest players in the world.”
DeMarco likewise praised the “high character” of Liberty players, noting that he is “really collaborative” and that New York, with “players that have already won,” will be a “very player-driven team.”
The thing is, however, Kolb tapped DeMarco for the position because he is NOT of the WNBA or women’s basketball.
Kolb chose DeMarco to replace Sandy Brondello, the epitome of a women’s basketball lifer, because Kolb believes that DeMarco can introduce something new, different and distinct from what the WNBA and Liberty have done in the past.
After the Liberty were eliminated from the playoffs and Brondello was not retained, Kolb insisted the decision was “rooted in being proactive,” as he determined that “evolution and innovation is what is needed.” Kolb further explained, “You can stand still or you can embrace change and move forward, and my commitment is to keep pushing the New York Liberty to new heights.”
On Wednesday, Kolb echoed his previous, tech-coded points of emphasis, underscoring that after “a detailed search,” he and the rest of the Liberty brass saw DeMarco as fulfilling the organization’s priorities, outlining:
We came up with criteria that were non-negotiables…tactical confidence…someone’s who’s a leader, someone who possesses a deep curiosity for the game of basketball….someone that understands the habits of building a dynasty…someone that has been in a championship environment.
Kolb said of DeMarco, “Chris possesses a rare combination of tactical savvy, emotion intelligence, and an unrelenting work ethic,” giving him credit for the “pivotal transition periods” he was part of with the Warriors. Kolb additionally related:
Late in the process…once we got to a tactical session…Chris really exceled in that area…he wants us to compete…he was really specific about players…his ability to coach in the NBA while having plans to us really spoke to us.
Kolb, in short, assesses DeMarco’s experience with the Warriors, an organization that once christened itself as “light-years ahead” of the rest of the NBA in terms of strategy, culture and innovation, as qualifying him to usher in a smarter, more strategically sophisticated era of Liberty basketball, one that elevates New York above the rest of the WNBA.
The criticisms levied on DeMarco should primarily be aimed at Kolb. It’s Kolb who, in turning to DeMarco, seems to think that he’s found a leader who can take the Liberty beyond the traditional boundaries of WNBA basketball. Kolb, likely, could care less if DeMarco takes a trip to Sue Wicks’ oyster farm, watches Tina Charles’ documentary about her father or puts a framed picture of “The Shot” in his office.
No, the hire of DeMarco was not designed to explicitly abandon the Liberty’s 30-year WNBA legacy.
Rather, Kolb’s comments consistently indicate that he believes that his goal of building the best, most sustainable and strategically-innovative basketball organization possible required him to look outside the WNBA, an attitude loaded with internalized biases about gender, race and basketball expertise that, not too surprisingly, resulted in a white, male NBA assistant with no prior experience in women’s basketball—who, therefore, must fire up his library card and/or Amazon account to read up on all things WNBA—being hired as the Liberty’s new head coach.
